Fauconshawe Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCBCBD EFEFEF GHG G IJIJIJ KLK K EMEMEM NONONO NPNPN QRQRQR SNTNT USUSU NVNVNV NJNWNJ XYXYXZ A2FNFTF NPB2PTP C2UC2UC2U NNNNN D2ND2N N E2NE2NE2N NE2NE2N NLNLNL E2RE2RE2 F2VG2VH2V I2NJ2NJN VK2VK2VK2 L2M2L2M2L2M2 VNVNV N2O2P2O2NO2 Q2R2Q2S2Q2 PK2PQ2PK2

A BalladA
-
To fetch clear water out of the springB
The little maid Margaret ranC
From the stream to the castle's western wingB
It was but a bowshot spanC
On the sedgy brink where the osiers clingB
Lay a dead man pallid and wanD
-
The lady Mabel rose from her bedE
And walked in the castle hallF
Where the porch through the western turret ledE
She met with her handmaid smallF
'What aileth thee Margaret ' the lady saidE
'Hast let thy pitcher fallF
-
'Say what hast thou seen by the streamlet sideG
A nymph or a water spriteH
That thou comest with eyes so wild and wideG
And with cheeks so ghostly white '-
'Nor nymph nor sprite ' the maiden criedG
'But the corpse of a slaughtered knight '-
-
The lady Mabel summon'd straightI
To her presence Sir Hugh de VereJ
Of the guests who tarried within the gateI
Of Fauconshawe most dearJ
Was he to that lady betrothed in stateI
They had been since many a yearJ
-
'Little Margaret sayeth a dead man liesK
By the western spring Sir HughL
I can scarce believe that the maiden liesK
Yet scarce can believe her true '-
And the knight replies 'Till we test her eyesK
Let her words gain credence due '-
-
Down the rocky path knight and lady ledE
While guests and retainers boldM
Followed in haste for like wildfire spreadE
The news by the maiden toldM
They found 'twas even as she had saidE
The corpse had some while been coldM
-
How the spirit had pass'd in the moments lastN
There was little trace to revealO
On the still calm face lay no imprint ghastN
Save the angel's solemn sealO
Yet the hands were clench'd in a death grip fastN
And the sods stamp'd down by the heelO
-
Sir Hugh by the side of the dead man kneltN
Said 'Full well these features I knowP
We have faced each other where blows were dealtN
And he was a stalwart foeP
I had rather met him hilt to hiltN
Than have found him lying low '-
-
He turned the body up on its faceQ
And never a word was spokenR
While he ripp'd the doublet and tore the laceQ
And tugg'd by the self same tokenR
And strain'd till he wrench'd it out of its placeQ
The dagger blade that was brokenR
-
Then he turned the body over againS
And said while he rose uprightN
'May the brand of Cain with its withering stainT
On the murderer's forehead lightN
For he never was slain on the open plainT
Nor yet in the open fight '-
-
Solemn and stern were the words he spokeU
And he look'd at his lady's menS
But his speech no answering echoes wokeU
All were silent there and thenS
Till a clear cold voice the silence brokeU
Lady Mabel cried 'Amen '-
-
His glance met hers the twain stood hush'dN
With the dead between them thereV
But the blood to her snowy temples rush'dN
Till it tinged the roots of her hairV
Then paled but a thin red streak still flush'dN
In the midst of her forehead fairV
-
Four yeomen raised the corpse from the groundN
At a sign from Sir Hugh de VereJ
It was borne to the western turret roundN
And laid on a knightly bierW
With never a sob nor a mourning soundN
No friend to the dead was nearJ
-
Yet that night was neither revel nor danceX
In the halls of FauconshaweY
Men looked askance with a doubtful glanceX
At Sir Hugh for they stood in aweY
Of his prowess but he like one in a tranceX
Regarded naught that he sawZ
-
-
-
Night black and chill wind gathering stillA2
With its wail in the turret tallF
And its headlong blast like a catapult castN
On the crest of the outer wallF
And its hail and rain on the crashing paneT
Till the glassy splinters fallF
-
A moody knight by the fitful lightN
Of the great hall fire belowP
A corpse upstairs and a woman at prayersB2
Will they profit her aye or noP
By'r lady fain an she comfort gainT
There is comfort for us alsoP
-
The guests were gone save Sir Hugh aloneC2
And he watched the gleams that brokeU
On the pale hearth stone and flickered and shoneC2
On the panels of polish'd oakU
He was 'ware of no presence except his ownC2
Till the voice of young Margaret spokeU
-
'I've risen Sir Hugh at the mirk midnightN
I cannot sleep in my bedN
Now unless my tale can be told arightN
I wot it were best unsaidN
It lies the blood of yon northern knightN
On my lady's hand and head '-
-
'Oh the wild wind raves and rushes alongD2
But thy ravings seem more wildN
She never could do so foul a wrongD2
Yet I blame thee not my childN
For the fever'd dreams on thy rest that throng '-
He frown'd through his speech was mildN
-
'Let storm winds eddy and scream and hurlE2
Their wrath they disturb me naughtN
The daughter she of a high born earlE2
No secret of hers I've soughtN
I am but the child of a peasant churlE2
Yet look to the proofs I've broughtN
-
'This dagger snapp'd so close to the hiltN
Dost remember thy token wellE2
Will it match with the broken blade that spiltN
His life in the western dellE2
Nay read her handwriting an thou wiltN
From her paramour's breast it fell '-
-
The knight in silence the letter readN
Oh the characters well he knewL
And his face might have match'd the face of the deadN
So ashen white was its hueL
Then he tore the parchment shred by shredN
And the strips in the flames he threwL
-
And he muttered 'Densely those shadows fallE2
In the copse where the alders thickenR
There she bade him come to her once for allE2
Now I well may shudder and sickenR
Gramercy that hand so white and smallE2
How strongly it must have stricken '-
-
-
-
At midnight hour in the western towerF2
Alone with the dead man thereV
Lady Mabel kneels nor heeds nor feelsG2
The shock of the rushing airV
Though the gusts that pass through the riven glassH2
Have scattered her raven hairV
-
Across the floor through the open doorI2
Where standeth a stately knightN
The lamplight streams and flickers and gleamsJ2
On his features stern and whiteN
'Tis Sir Hugh de Vere and he cometh more nearJ
And the lady standeth uprightN
-
' 'Tis little ' he said 'that I know or careV
Of the guilt if guilt there beK2
That lies 'twixt thee and yon dead man thereV
Nor matters it now to meK2
I thought thee pure thou art only fairV
And to morrow I cross the seaK2
-
'He perish'd I ask not why or howL2
I come to recall my trothM2
Take back my lady thy broken vowL2
Give back my allegiance oathM2
Let the past be buried between us nowL2
For ever 'tis best for bothM2
-
'Yet Mabel I could ask dost thou dareV
Lay hand on that corpse's heartN
And call on thy Maker and boldly swearV
That thou hadst in his death no partN
I ask not while threescore proofs I shareV
With one doubt uncondemn'd thou art '-
-
Oh cold and bleak upon Mabel's cheekN2
Came the blast of the storm wind keenO2
And her tresses black as the glossy backP2
Of the raven glanced betweenO2
Her fingers slight like the ivory whiteN
As she parted their sable sheenO2
-
Yet with steady lip and with fearless eyeQ2
And with cheek like the flush of dawnR2
Unflinchingly she spoke in replyQ2
'Go hence with the break of mornS2
I will neither confess nor yet denyQ2
I will return thee scorn for scorn '-
-
The knight bow'd low as he turn'd to goP
He travell'd by land and seaK2
But naught of his future fate I knowP
And naught of his fair ladyeQ2
My story is told as long agoP
My story was told to meK2

Adam Lindsay Gordon



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