The Oracles Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCE FGFG CHCH| 'Tis mute the word they went to hear on high Dodona mountain | A |
| When winds were in the oakenshaws and all the cauldrons tolled | B |
| And mute's the midland navel stone beside the singing fountain | A |
| And echoes list to silence now where gods told lies of old | B |
| - | |
| I took my question to the shrine that has not ceased from speaking | C |
| The heart within that tells the truth and tells it twice as plain | D |
| And from the cave of oracles I heard the priestess shrieking | C |
| That she and I should surely die and never live again | E |
| - | |
| Oh priestess what you cry is clear and sound good sense I think it | F |
| But let the screaming echoes rest and froth your mouth no more | G |
| 'Tis true there's better boose than brine but he that drowns must drink it | F |
| And oh my lass the news is news that men have heard before | G |
| - | |
| The King with half the East at heel is marched from lands of morning | C |
| Their fighters drink the rivers up their shafts benight the air | H |
| And he that stands will die for nought and home there's no returning | C |
| The Spartans on the sea wet rock sat down and combed their hair | H |
Alfred Edward Housman
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