the historical importance of piotr kochanowski's translation lies in its form. the poet used exactly the same form, ottava rima. it is an italian strophe of eight lines. it is built of 11-syllable lines (endecasillabo in italian). it rhymes abababcc. the strophe was used by italian poets from 14th century. there are many long poems in ottava rima in italian literature of 15th and 16th centuries. there were not any in polish literature of the time. piotr kochanowski introduced the strophe into polish poetry. there was another poet, sebastian grabowiecki, who used it earlier in poland. he dit it, however, in one short poem. into english poetry ottava rima was introduced many years before by thomas wyatt. in 17th century ottava rima became one of the most important verse forms in poland.