The Challenge Answered Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB BBDB EFDC GHDH IBDB JKBK BBCB LBMB LCNC| So at length the word is uttered which the vain Gaul long hath muttered | A |
| 'Twixt his teeth by envy fluttered at another land being great | B |
| And the dogs of war are loos d and the carnagestream unsluic d | C |
| That the might of France abus d may torment the world like Fate | B |
| - | |
| O thou nation base besotted whose ambition cannons shotted | B |
| And huge mounds of corpses clotted with cold gore alone can sate | B |
| May the God of Battles shiver every arrow in thy quiver | D |
| And the nobly flowing river thou dost covet drown thy hate | B |
| - | |
| For 'tis writ on towering steeple if ye sow ill ye shall reap ill | E |
| And a stern offended people swarm from city hill and plain | F |
| And with lips ne'er known to palter swear by king and hearth and altar | D |
| Not to sheath the sword or falter till they flash it by the Seine | C |
| - | |
| See they come in dazzling masses from soft vales and frowning passes | G |
| Dense with blades as now the grass is that the summer sun doth shine | H |
| And proclaim with voice of thunder that French hordes athirst for plunder | D |
| Not one single rood shall sunder from their Fatherland and Rhine | H |
| - | |
| Swabian Saxon Frank and Hessian lo they muster form and press on | I |
| Pledged to teach the Gaul the lesson he ne'er learns but through the sword | B |
| That the gay light hearted glitter of the wicked wanton hitter | D |
| May be turned to wormwood bitter by the judgment of the Lord | B |
| - | |
| To their maids no longer fickle down whose cheeks the fond tears trickle | J |
| Leaving pruning hook and sickle yellow corn and purple grape | K |
| Do they vow as long as shielded behind swords by Germans wielded | B |
| That their soil shall ne'er be yielded to the tiger and the ape | K |
| - | |
| On then on ye souls undaunted let the flag of Right be flaunted | B |
| And your late roused wrath be haunted by the outrages of old | B |
| When for empty Gallic glory were your hearths made black and gory | C |
| And the lone sire's head turned hoary by the slaughter of his fold | B |
| - | |
| Nor with glorious defending to your ire be there an ending | L |
| But still onwards ever wending let your legions never halt | B |
| Till ye show to braggart Paris what at hand the edge of war is | M |
| How it desolates and harries and then strew its streets with salt | B |
| - | |
| For its lips are seared with lying and its crimes to God are crying | L |
| And the Earth oppressed is sighing Oh how long shall these things be | C |
| And a shout of exultation will go up from every nation | N |
| As your sword the World's salvation smites the insulter to his knee | C |
Alfred Austin
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
About The Challenge Answered
The Challenge Answered is a poem by Alfred Austin. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
Write your comment about The Challenge Answered poem by Alfred Austin
Best Poems of Alfred Austin