Yet though observant of his own classical rules, Tasso remained in all essential points beneath the spell of the Romantic Epic.

The changes which he introduced were obvious to none but professional critics.

In warp and woof the _Rinaldo_ is similar to Boiardo's and Ariosto's tale of chivalry; only the loom is narrower, and the pattern of the web less intricate.

The air of artlessness which lent its charm to Romance in Italy has disappeared, yielding place to sustained elaboration of Latinizing style.

Otherwise the fabric remains substantially unaltered--like a Gothic dwelling furnished with Palladian window-frames.