The Legend Of Lady Gertrude Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBBC ADEDDE AFGFFG HIJIIJ HKLKKL HG MGGN HOFOOF HLPLLP NLGLLG NLLLLL NLNLLN NLLLLL NFQFFQ HRSRRS HLNLLN HNTNNT HNLNNL HLLLLL NCUCCU NLVLLV NWNWXN NRNRRN NGRGGR RRNRRN RYRYYR RNRNNR RRRRRR RFRFFR NFO FFO NRYRRY NRRNNR NRCRRC NRNRRN RRRRR

IA
Fallen the lofty halls where vassal crowdsB
Drank in the dawn of Gertrude's natal dayC
The dungeon roof an Alpine snow wreath shroudsB
The strong wild eagle's eyrie in the cloudsB
The robber baron's nest is swept awayC
-
IIA
Bare is the mountain brow of lordly towersD
Only the sunbeams stay the moon and starsE
The faithful saxifrage and gentian flowersD
The silvery mist and soft white crystal showersD
And torrents rushing through their rocky barsE
-
IIIA
More than three hundred years ago the flagF
Charged with that dread device an Alpine bearG
By many storm winds rent a grim grey ragF
Floated above the castle on the cragF
Above the last whose heads were shelter'd thereG
-
IVH
He was the proudest of an ancient raceI
The fiercest of the robber chieftain's bandJ
That haughty Freiherr with the iron faceI
And she his lady sister by God's graceI
The sweetest gentlest maiden in the landJ
-
VH
'Twas a rude nest for such a tender birdK
That lonely fortress with its warrior lordL
Aye drunken revels the night stillness stirredK
From morn till eve the battle cries were heardK
The sound of jingling spur and clanking swordL
-
VIH
And Lady Gertrude was both young and fairG
-
A mark for lawless hearts and roving eyesM
With sweet grave face and amber tinted hairG
And a low voice soft thrilling through the airG
Filling it full of subtlest melodiesN
-
VIIH
But the great baron proudest of his lineO
Fetter'd with jealous care his white dove's wingF
Guarded his treasure in an inner shrineO
Till such a day as knightly hands should twineO
Her slender fingers with the marriage ringF
-
VIIIH
From all her household rights was she debarredL
Her chair and place within the castle hallP
Her palfrey's saddle in the castle yardL
Her nursing ministries when blows fell hardL
In border struggles she was kept from allP
-
IXN
A stone paved chamber and the parapetL
Opening above its winding turret stairG
The castle chapel where few men were metL
Round these the brother's boundaries were setL
The sweet child sister was so very fairG
-
XN
She had her faithful nurse her doves her luteL
Her broidery and her distaff and the houndL
Best prized of all the grand half human bruteL
Who aye watched near her beautiful and muteL
With ears love quicken'd listening from the groundL
-
XIN
But the wild bird so honourably cagedL
Grew sick and sad in its captivityN
Longed like those hills which time nor storm had agedL
And those deep glens where Danube waters ragedL
In God's own wind and sunshine to be freeN
-
XIIN
And on a day when she had seen them rideL
Baron and troopers on some border raidL
Wooed by the glory of the summer tideL
The hound's soft slouching footstep at her sideL
Adown the valley Lady Gertrude stray'dL
-
XIIIN
Adown the crag whose shadow still and blackF
Lay like the death sleep on a mountain poolQ
Through rocky glen by silvery torrent's trackF
Through forest glade 'neath wild vines fluttering backF
From softest zephyr kisses green and coolQ
-
XIVH
E'en till the woods and hamlets down belowR
And summer meadows were all broad and clearS
The river moving statelily and slowR
A crimson ribbon in the sunset glowR
The dim white distant city strangely nearS
-
XVH
She sat her down a weary on the groundL
With tremulous long drawn breath and wistful eyesN
Caress'd the velvet muzzle of the houndL
And listen'd vainly for some little soundL
To come up from her world of mysteriesN
-
XVIH
She had forgotten of the time and placeN
When clank of warrior's harness smote her dreamT
A growl a spring a shadow on her faceN
And one strode up with slow and stately paceN
And stood before her in the soft sun gleamT
-
XVIIH
An arm d knight in noblest knightly guiseN
From golden spur to golden dragon crestL
Through open vizor gazing with surpriseN
Into the fair flush'd face and startled eyesN
While horse and hound stood watchfully at restL
-
XVIIIH
The sun went down and with long stealthy strideL
The shadows came blurring the summer lightL
And there was none the lady's step to guideL
Up the lost pathway on the mountain sideL
None to protect her but this stranger knightL
-
XIXN
He placed her gently on his dappled greyC
Clothed in his mantle for the air was chillU
He led her all the long and devious wayC
Through glens where starless night held royal swayC
And vine tressed woodlands where the leaves were stillU
-
XXN
Through pathless ravines where swift waters roll'dL
Up dark crag ramparts perilously steepV
Where eagles and a she bear watch'd the foldL
Facing the mountain breezes clear and coldL
In shy sweet silence eloquent and deepV
-
XXIN
Holding his charger by the bridle reinW
He led her through the robber chieftain's landsN
Led her unchallenged by the baron's trainW
E'en to the low brow'd castle gate againX
And there he humbly knelt to kiss her handsN
-
XXIIN
Brave lips o'er tender palms bent down so lowR
Silent and reverent as it were to blessN
'Twas e'en a knightly love they did bestowR
Love true as steel and undefiled as snowR
No common courtesy no light caressN
-
XXIIIN
He rode away and she to turret lairG
Sped swift and trembling like a hunted doeR
But wherefore on the loopholed winding stairG
Knelt she till morning weeping watching thereG
Because he was her brother's deadliest foeR
-
XXIVR
Because the golden dragon's blood had mixtR
In all those mountain streams had dyed the grassN
Now trodden for her sake because betwixtR
Those two proud barons such a gulf was fixtR
As never bridge of peace might overpassN
-
XXVR
A bitter passionate feud that was begunY
In ages long forgotten and bequeath'dR
With those rich baronies by sire to sonY
A sacred charge a great work never doneY
A sharp and fiery weapon never sheath'dR
-
XXVIR
Yet e'er a month slipped by as summer slipsN
On noiseless wings another kiss was laidR
Not on white palms or rosy finger tipsN
But softly on shut eyes and quivering lipsN
And vows were seal d in the forest gladeR
-
XXVIIR
The robber baron who had hedged aboutR
That fairest blossom of the sacred plantR
Saw he the insolent mail d hand stretch'd outR
To break down all his barriers strong and stoutR
Knew he aught of that gracious covenantR
-
XXVIIIR
His pride serenely slept Nor did it wakeF
Till in amaze he saw his enemy standR
In his own castle praying him to takeF
The pledge of peace for Lady Gertrude's sakeF
Praying him humbly for the lady's handR
-
XXIXN
Slowly the knitted brows grew fierce and blackF
Slowly the eagle eyes began to shineO
-
Sir knight he said I pray you get you backF
But one hour and the Bears are on your trackF
There's naught but fire and sword 'twixt mine and thineO
-
XXXN
And then the doors were barred on every sideR
Upon the innocent traitor who had doneY
Such doubly shameful despite to his prideR
Mocking I'll satisfy your heart he criedR
An' you will have a husband pretty oneY
-
XXXIN
Yet did she send a message stealthilyR
Spurred by the torture of this ominous threatR
Thou wilt not suffer it she said And heN
Fear not To morrow will I come for theeN
At eve to morrow when the sun has setR
-
XXXIIN
And on the morrow when the autumn lightR
Of red and gold had faded into greyC
She heard his signal up the echoing heightR
Like hoarse owl whistle quivering through the nightR
And in the dark she softly slipped awayC
-
XXXIIIN
Her faithful nurse with trembling hands untwinedR
The new forged fetters and drew back the barsN
The hound look'd up into her face and whinedR
And scratch'd the door he would not stay behindR
And so she went watch'd only by the starsN
-
XXXIVR
Adown the mountain passes with wing'd feetR
And bright blank eyes her hand fast clutch'd aroundR
A ragged slip of myrtle white and sweetR
The hoR

Ada Cambridge



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