Jerusalem Delivered - Book 06 - Part 02 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCBCBCDD A EDEDE EE A FEF F D A DDDDDDEE D EGEHEHDD D DIDJDJ E D KEKEKEE D EEEEEEEE D EHELEHEE A EDEDEDEE A EME EMEE A EEEEEEEE A ENENENFF A HEH HEEE

XVA
-
'Say that a knight who holds in great disdainB
To be thus closed up in secret newC
Will with his sword in open field maintainB
If any dare deny his words for trueC
That no devotion as they falsely feignB
Hath moved the French these countries to subdueC
But vile ambition and pride's hateful viceD
Desire of rule and spoil and coveticeD
-
XVIA
-
'And that to fight I am not only prestE
With one or two that dare defend the causeD
But come the fourth or fifth come all the restE
Come all that will and all that weapon drawsD
Let him that yields obey the victor's hestE
As wills the lore of mighty Mars his laws '-
This was the challenge that fierce Pagan sentE
The herald donned his coat of arms and wentE
-
XVIIA
-
And when the man before the presence cameF
Of princely Godfrey and his captains boldE
'My Lord ' quoth he 'may I withouten blameF
Before your Grace my message brave unfold '-
'Thou mayest ' he answered 'we approve the sameF
Withouten fear be thine ambassage told '-
'Then ' quoth the herald 'shall your highness seeD
If this ambassage sharp or pleasing be '-
-
XVIIIA
-
The challenge gan he then at large exposeD
With mighty threats high terms and glorious wordsD
On every side an angry murmur roseD
To wrath so moved were the knights and lordsD
Then Godfrey spake and said 'The man hath choseD
An hard exploit but when he feels our swordsD
I trust we shall so far entreat the knightE
As to excuse the fourth or fifth of fightE
-
XIXD
-
'But let him come and prove the field I grantE
Nor wrong nor treason let him doubt or fearG
Some here shall pay him for his glorious vauntE
Without or guile or vantage that I swearH
The herald turned when he had ended scantE
And hasted back the way he came whileareH
Nor stayed he aught nor once forslowed his paceD
Till he bespake Argantes face to faceD
-
XXD
-
'Arm you my lord ' he said 'your bold defiesD
By your brave foes accepted boldly beenI
This combat neither high nor low deniesD
Ten thousand wish to meet you on the greenJ
A thousand frowned with angry flaming eyesD
And shaked for rage their swords and weapons keenJ
The field is safely granted by their guide '-
This said the champion for his armor criedE
-
XXID
-
While he was armed his heart for ire nigh brakeK
So yearned his courage hot his foes to findE
The King to fair Clorinda present spakeK
'If he go forth remain not you behindE
But of our soldiers best a thousand takeK
To guard his person and your own assignedE
Yet let him meet alone the Christian knightE
And stand yourself aloof while they two fight '-
-
XXIID
-
Thus spake the King and soon without abodeE
The troop went forth in shining armor cladE
Before the rest the Pagan champion rodeE
His wonted arms and ensigns all he hadE
A goodly plan displayed wide and broadE
Between the city and the camp was spreadE
A place like that wherein proud Rome beheldE
The forward young men manage spear and shieldE
-
XXIIID
-
There all alone Argantes took his standE
Defying Christ and all his servants trueH
In stature stomach and in strength of handE
In pride presumption and in dreadful showL
Encelade like on the Phlegrean strandE
Of that huge giant Jesse's infant slewH
But his fierce semblant they esteemed lightE
For most not knew or else not feared his mightE
-
XXIVA
-
As yet not one had Godfrey singled outE
To undertake this hardy enterpriseD
But on Prince Tancred saw he all the routE
Had fixed their wishes and had cast their eyesD
On him he spied them gazing round aboutE
As though their honor on his prowess liesD
And now they whispered louder what they meantE
Which Godfrey heard and saw and was contentE
-
XXVA
-
The rest gave place for every one descriedE
To whom their chieftain's will did most inclineM
'Tancred ' quoth he 'I pray thee calm the prideE
Abate the rage of yonder Saracine '-
No longer would the chosen champion bideE
His face with joy his eyes with gladness shineM
His helm he took and ready steed bestrodeE
And guarded with his trusty friends forth rodeE
-
XXVIA
-
But scantly had he spurred his courser swiftE
Near to the plain where proud Argantes stayedE
When unawares his eyes he chanced to liftE
And on the hill beheld the warlike maidE
As white as snow upon the Alpine cliftE
The virgin shone in silver arms arrayedE
Her vental up so high that he descriedE
Her goodly visage and her beauty's prideE
-
XXVIIA
-
He saw not where the Pagan stood and staredE
As if with looks he would his foeman killN
But full of other thoughts he forward faredE
And sent his looks before him up the hillN
His gesture such his troubled soul declaredE
At last as marble rock he standeth stillN
Stone cold without within burnt with love's flameF
And quite forgot himself and why he cameF
-
XXVIIIA
-
The challenger that yet saw none appearH
That made or sign or show came to justE
'How long ' cried he 'shall I attend you hereH
Dares none come forth dares none his fortune trust '-
The other stood amazed love stopped his earH
He thinks on Cupid think of Mars who lustE
But forth stert Otho bold and took the fieldE
A gentle knight whom God from danger shieldE

Torquato Tasso



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