Jerusalem Delivered - Book 06 - Part 03 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCDBCBB A BEBFBF G A BHBHBHIJ A AKAKAKL A ABA ABM N BOBOBOBB N BIBIBIBB N BBB BBPP N BHBHBHB N BPBPBPQQ A RSRSTSUU U ABABABVV U WBWBWBBB U MXMXMXBB

XXIXA
-
This youth was one of those who late desiredB
With that vain glorious boaster to have foughtC
But Tancred chosen he and all retiredD
Now when his slackness he awhile admiredB
And saw elsewhere employed was his thoughtC
Nor that to just though chosen once he profferedB
He boldly took that fit occasion offeredB
-
XXXA
-
No tiger panther spotted leopardB
Runs half so swift the forests wild amongE
As this young champion hasted thitherwardB
Where he attending saw the Pagan strongF
Tancredi started with the noise he heardB
As waked from sleep where he had dreamed longF
'Oh stay ' he cried 'to me belongs this war '-
But cried too late Otho was gone too farG
-
XXXIA
-
Then full of fury anger and despiteB
He stayed his horse and waxed red for shameH
The fight was his but now disgraced quiteB
Himself he thought another played his gameH
Meanwhile the Saracen did hugely smiteB
On Otho's helm who to requite the sameH
His foe quite through his sevenfold targe did bearI
And in his breastplate stuck and broke his spearJ
-
XXXIIA
-
The encounter such upon the tender grassA
Down from his steed the Christian backward fellK
Yet his proud foe so strong and sturdy wasA
That he nor shook nor staggered in his sellK
But to the knight that lay full low alasA
In high disdain his will thus gan he tellK
'Yield thee my slave and this thine honor beL
Thou may'st report thou hast encountered me '-
-
XXXIIIA
-
'Not so ' quoth he 'pardy it's not the guiseA
Of Christian knights though fall'n so soon to yieldB
I can my fall excuse in better wiseA
And will revenge this shame or die in field '-
The great Circassian bent his frowning eyesA
Like that grim visage in Minerva's shieldB
'Then learn ' quoth he 'what force Argantes usethM
Against that fool that proffered grace refuseth '-
-
XXXIVN
-
With that he spurred his horse with speed and hasteB
Forgetting what good knights to virtue oweO
Otho his fury shunned and as he passedB
At his right side he reached a noble blowO
Wide was the wound the blood outstreamed fastB
And from his side fell to his stirrup lowO
But what avails to hurt if wounds augmentB
Our foe's fierce courage strength and hardimentB
-
XXXVN
-
Argantes nimbly turned his ready steedB
And ere his foe was wist or well awareI
Against his side he drove his courser's headB
What force could he gainst so great might prepareI
Weak were his feeble joints his courage deadB
His heart amazed his paleness showed his careI
His tender side gainst the hard earth he castB
Shamed with the first fall bruised with the lastB
-
XXXVIN
-
The victor spurred again his light foot steedB
And made his passage over Otho's heartB
And cried 'These fools thus under foot I treadB
This dare contend with me in equal mart '-
Tancred for anger shook his noble headB
So was he grieved with that unknightly partB
The fault was his he was so slow beforeP
With double valor would he salve that soreP
-
XXXVIIN
-
Forward he galloped fast and loudly criedB
'Villain ' quoth he 'thy conquest is thy shameH
What praise what honor shall this fact betideB
What gain what guerdon shall befall the sameH
Among the Arabian thieves thy face go hideB
Far from resort of men of worth and fameH
Or else in woods and mountains wild by nightB
On savage beasts employ thy savage might '-
-
XXXVIIIN
-
The Pagan patience never knew nor usedB
Trembling for ire his sandy locks he toreP
Our from his lips flew such a sound confusedB
As lions make in deserts thick which roarP
Or as when clouds together crushed and bruisedB
Pour down a tempest by the Caspian shoreP
So was his speech imperfect stopped and brokenQ
He roared and thundered when he should have spokenQ
-
XXXIXA
-
But when with threats they both had whetted keenR
Their eager rage their fury spite and ireS
They turned their steeds and left large space betweenR
To make their forces greater 'proaching nigherS
With terms that warlike and that worthy beenT
O sacred Muse my haughty thoughts inspireS
And make a trumpet of my slender quillU
To thunder out this furious combat shrillU
-
XLU
-
These sons of Mayors bore instead of spearsA
Two knotty masts which none but they could liftB
Each foaming steed so fast his master bearsA
That never beast bird shaft flew half so swiftB
Such was their fury as when Boreas tearsA
The shattered crags from Taurus' northern cliftB
Upon their helms their lances long they brokeV
And up to heaven flew splinters spark and smokeV
-
XLIU
-
The shock made all the towers and turrets quakeW
And woods and mountains all nigh hand resoundB
Yet could not all that force and fury shakeW
The valiant champions nor their persons woundB
Together hurtled both their steeds and brakeW
Each other's neck the riders lay on groundB
But they great masters of war's dreadful artB
Plucked forth their swords and soon from earth up startB
-
XLIIU
-
Close at his surest ward each warrior liethM
He wisely guides his hand his foot his eyeX
This blow he proveth that defence he triethM
He traverseth retireth presseth nighX
Now strikes he out and now he falsifiethM
This blow he wardeth that he lets slip byX
And for advantage oft he lets some partB
Discovered seem thus art deludeth artB

Torquato Tasso



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