Fauconshawe: A Ballad Poem Rhyme Scheme

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Adam Lindsay Gordon

Fauconshawe: A Ballad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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To fetch clear water out of the spring	A
The little maid Margaret ran	B
From the stream to the castle's western wing	A
It was but a bowshot span	B
On the sedgy brink where the osiers cling	A
Lay a dead man pallid and wan	C
	-
The lady Mabel rose from her bed	D
And walked in the castle hall	E
Where the porch through the western turret led	D
She met with her handmaid small	E
What aileth thee Margaret the lady said	D
Hast let thy pitcher fall	E
	-
Say what hast thou seen by the streamlet side	F
A nymph or a water sprite	G
That thou comest with eyes so wild and wide	F
And with cheeks so ghostly white	G
Nor nymph nor sprite the maiden cried	F
But the corpse of a slaughtered knight	G
	-
The lady Mabel summon'd straight	H
To her presence Sir Hugh de Vere	I
Of the guests who tarried within the gate	H
Of Fauconshawe most dear	I
Was he to that lady betrothed in state	H
They had been since many a year	I
	-
Little Margaret sayeth a dead man lies	J
By the western spring Sir Hugh	K
I can scarce believe that the maiden lies	J
Yet scarce can believe her true	K
And the knight replies Till we test her eyes	J
Let her words gain credence due	K
	-
Down the rocky path knight and lady led	D
While guests and retainers bold	L
Followed in haste for like wildfire spread	D
The news by the maiden told	L
They found 'twas even as she had said	D
The corpse had some while been cold	L
	-
How the spirit had pass'd in the moments last	M
There was little trace to reveal	N
On the still calm face lay no imprint ghast	M
Save the angel's solemn seal	N
Yet the hands were clench'd in a death grip fast	M
And the sods stamp'd down by the heel	N
	-
Sir Hugh by the side of the dead man knelt	M
Said Full well these features I know	O
We have faced each other where blows were dealt	M
And he was a stalwart foe	O
I had rather have met him hilt to hilt	M
Than have found him lying low	O
	-
He turn'd the body up on its face	P
And never a word was spoken	Q
While he ripp'd the doublet and tore the lace	P
And tugg'd by the self same token	Q
And strain'd till he wrench'd it out of its place	P
The dagger blade that was broken	Q
	-
Then he turned the body over again	R
And said while he rose upright	M
May the brand of Cain with its withering stain	S
On the murderer's forehead light	M
For he never was slain on the open plain	S
Nor yet in the open fight	M
	-
Solemn and stern were the words he spoke	T
And he look'd at his lady's men	R
But his speech no answering echoes woke	T
All were silent there and then	R
Till a clear cold voice the silence broke	T
Lady Mabel cried Amen	R
	-
His glance met hers the twain stood hush'd	M
With the dead between them there	U
But the blood to her snowy temples rush'd	M
Till it tinged the roots of her hair	U
Then paled but a thin red streak still flush'd	M
In the midst of her forehead fair	U
	-
Four yeomen raised the corpse from the ground	M
At a sign from Sir Hugh de Vere	I
It was borne to the western turret round	M
And laid on a knightly bier	V
With never a sob nor a mourning sound	M
No friend to the dead was near	I
	-
Yet that night was neither revel nor dance	W
In the halls of Fauconshawe	X
Men looked askance with a doubtful glance	W
At Sir Hugh for they stood in awe	X
Of his prowess but he like one in a trance	W
Regarded naught that he saw	Y
	-
	-
	-
Night black and chill wind gathering still	Z
With its wail in the turret tall	E
And its headlong blast like a catapult cast	M
On the crest of the outer wall	E
And its hail and rain on the crashing pane	S
Till the glassy splinters fall	E
	-
A moody knight by the fitful light	M
Of the great hall fire below	O
A corpse upstairs and a woman at prayers	A2
Will they profit her aye or no	O
By'r lady fain an' she comfort gain	S
There is comfort for us also	O
	-
The guests were gone save Sir Hugh alone	B2
And he watched the gleams that broke	T
On the pale hearth stone and flickered and shone	B2
On the panels of polish'd oak	T
He was 'ware of no presence except his own	B2
Till the voice of young Margaret spoke	T
	-
I've risen Sir Hugh at the mirk midnight	M
I cannot sleep in my bed	M
Now unless my tale can be told aright	M
I wot it were best unsaid	M
It lies the blood of yon northern knight	M
On my lady's hand and head	M
	-
Oh the wild wind raves and rushes along	C2
But thy ravings seem more wild	M
She never could do so foul a wrong	C2
Yet I blame thee not my child	M
For the fever'd dreams on thy rest that throng	C2
He frown'd though his speech was mild	M
	-
Let storm winds eddy and scream and hurl	D2
Their wrath they disturb me naught	M
The daughter she of a high born earl	D2
No secret of hers I've sought	M
I am but the child of a peasant churl	D2
Yet look to the proofs I've brought	M
	-
This dagger snapp'd so close to the hilt	M
Dost remember thy token well	D2
Will it match with the broken blade that spilt	M
His life in the western dell	D2
Nay read her handwriting an' thou wilt	M
From her paramour's breast it fell	D2
	-
The knight in silence the letter read	M
Oh the characters well he knew	K
And his face might have match'd the face of the dead	M
So ashen white was its hue	K
Then he tore the parchment shred by shred	M
And the strips in the flames he threw	K
	-
And he muttered Densely those shadows fall	D2
In the copse where the alders thicken	Q
There she bade him come to her once for all	D2
Now I well may shudder and sicken	Q
Gramercy that hand so white and small	D2
How strongly it must have stricken	Q
	-
	-
	-
At midnight hour in the western tower	E2
Alone with the dead man there	U
Lady Mabel kneels nor heeds nor feels	F2
The shock of the rushing air	U
Though the gusts that pass through the riven glass	G2
Have scattered her raven hair	U
	-
Across the floor through the opening door	H2
Where standeth a stately knight	M
The lamplight streams and flickers and gleams	I2
On his features stern and white	M
'Tis Sir Hugh de Vere and he cometh more near	I
And the lady standeth upright	M
	-
'Tis little he said that I know or care	U
Of the guilt if guilt there be	J2
That lies 'twixt thee and yon dead man there	U
Nor matters it now to me	J2
I thought thee pure thou art only fair	U
And to morrow I cross the sea	J2
	-
He perish'd I ask not why or how	K2
I come to recall my troth	L2
Take back my lady thy broken vow	K2
Give back my allegiance oath	L2
Let the past be buried between us now	K2
For ever 'tis best for both	L2
	-
Yet Mabel I could ask dost thou dare	U
Lay hand on that corpse's heart	M
And call on thy Maker and boldly swear	U
That thou hadst in his death no part	M
I ask not while threescore proofs I share	U
With one doubt uncondemn'd thou art	M
	-
Oh cold and bleak upon Mabel's cheek	M2
Came the blast of the storm wind keen	N2
And her tresses black as the glossy back	O2
Of the raven glanced between	N2
Her fingers slight like the ivory white	M
As she parted their sable sheen	N2
	-
Yet with steady lip and with fearless eye	P2
And with cheek like the flush of dawn	Q2
Unflinchingly she spoke in reply	P2
Go hence with the break of morn	R2
I will neither confess nor yet deny	P2
I will return thee scorn for scorn	R2
	-
The knight bow'd low as he turn'd to go	O
He travell'd by land and sea	J2
But naught of his future fate I know	O
And naught of his fair ladye	P2
My story is told as long ago	O
My story was told to me	J2