Morte D'arthur Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJKL MNGEBOPQMRSBTUMVWXYI ZAA2MMA MB2TCLA AC2SD2E2F2X MG2H2AI2J2K2AAAAL2M2 Z MN2A MPA O2P2AAAMQ2SZA OMAAAA R2AS2SKR2T2AU2V2AW2A X2Y2MXY2 OY2A AOZ BA MZA Z2MBZQ2AY2NAA3Y2Y2Y2 MA CAAAG2B3UZBMOYOMZ W2KA MY2Y2ASAOOYOA AC3AMA Y2OY2MY2Y2BA

So all day long the noise of battle roll'dA
Among the mountains by the winter seaB
Until King Arthur's table man by manC
Had fallen in Lyonnesse about their LordD
King Arthur then because his wound was deepE
The bold Sir Bedivere uplifted himF
Sir Bedivere the last of all his knightsG
And bore him to a chapel nigh the fieldH
A broken chancel with a broken crossI
That stood on a dark strait of barren landJ
On one side lay the ocean and on oneK
Lay a great water and the moon was fullL
-
Then spake King Arthur to Sir BedivereM
quot The sequel of to day unsolders allN
The goodliest fellowship of famous knightsG
Whereof this world holds record Such a sleepE
They sleep the men I loved I think that weB
Shall never more at any future timeO
Delight our souls with talk of knightly deedsP
Walking about the gardens and the hallsQ
Of Camelot as in the days that wereM
I perish by this people which I madeR
Tho' Merlin sware that I should come againS
To rule once more but let what will be beB
I am so deeply smitten thro' the helmT
That without help I cannot last till mornU
Thou therefore take my brand ExcaliburM
Which was my pride for thou rememberest howV
In those old days one summer noon an armW
Rose up from out the bosom of the lakeX
Clothed in white samite mystic wonderfulY
Holding the sword and how I row'd acrossI
And took it and have worn it like a kingZ
And wheresoever I am sung or toldA
In aftertime this also shall be knownA2
But now delay not take ExcaliburM
And fling him far into the middle mereM
Watch what thou se st and lightly bring me word quotA
-
To him replied the bold Sir BedivereM
quot It is not meet Sir King to leave thee thusB2
Aidless alone and smitten thro' the helmT
A little thing may harm a wounded manC
Yet I thy hest will all perform at fullL
Watch what I see and lightly bring thee word quotA
-
So saying from the ruin'd shrine he steptA
And in the moon athwart the place of tombsC2
Where lay the mighty bones of ancient menS
Old knights and over them the sea wind sangD2
Shrill chill with flakes of foam He stepping downE2
By zigzag paths and juts of pointed rockF2
Came on the shining levels of the lakeX
-
There drew he forth the brand ExcaliburM
And o'er him drawing it the winter moonG2
Brightening the skirts of a long cloud ran forthH2
And sparkled keen with frost against the hiltA
For all the haft twinkled with diamond sparksI2
Myriads of topaz lights and jacinth workJ2
Of subtlest jewellery He gazed so longK2
That both his eyes were dazzled as he stoodA
This way and that dividing the swift mindA
In act to throw but at the last it seem'dA
Better to leave Excalibur conceal'dA
There in the many knotted water flagsL2
That whistled stiff and dry about the margeM2
So strode he back slow to the wounded KingZ
-
Then spake King Arthur to Sir BedivereM
quot Hast thou perform'd my mission which I gaveN2
What is it thou hast seen or what hast heard quotA
-
And answer made the bold Sir BedivereM
quot I heard the ripple washing in the reedsP
And the wild water lapping on the crag quotA
-
To whom replied King Arthur faint and paleO2
quot Thou hast betray'd thy nature and thy nameP2
Not rendering true answer as beseem'dA
Thy fealty nor like a noble knightA
For surer sign had follow'd either handA
Or voice or else a motion of the mereM
This is a shameful thing for men to lieQ2
Yet now I charge thee quickly go againS
As thou art lief and dear and do the thingZ
I bade thee watch and lightly bring me word quotA
-
Then went Sir Bedivere the second timeO
Across the ridge and paced beside the mereM
Counting the dewy pebbles fixed in thoughtA
But when he saw the wonder of the hiltA
How curiously and strangely chased he smoteA
His palms together and he cried aloudA
-
quot And if indeed I cast the brand awayR2
Surely a precious thing one worthy noteA
Should thus be lost forever from the earthS2
Which might have pleased the eyes of many menS
What good should follow this if this were doneK
What harm undone deep harm to disobeyR2
Seeing obedience is the bond of ruleT2
Were it well to obey then if a king demandA
An act unprofitable against himselfU2
The King is sick and knows not what he doesV2
What record or what relic of my lordA
Should be to aftertime but empty breathW2
And rumours of a doubt but were this keptA
Stored in some treasure house of mighty kingsX2
Some one might show it at a joust of armsY2
Saying 'King Arthur's sword ExcaliburM
Wrought by the lonely maiden of the LakeX
Nine years she wrought it sitting in the deepsY2
Upon the hidden bases of the hills '-
So might some old man speak in the aftertimeO
To all the people winning reverenceY2
But now much honour and much fame were lost quotA
-
So spake he clouded with his own conceitA
And hid Excalibur the second timeO
And so strode back slow to the wounded KingZ
-
Then spoke King Arthur breathing heavilyB
quot What is it thou hast seen or what hast heard quotA
-
And answer made the bold Sir BedivereM
quot I heard the water lapping on the cragZ
And the long ripple washing in the reeds quotA
-
To whom replied King Arthur much in wrathZ2
quot Ah miserable and unkind untrueM
Unknightly traitor hearted Woe is meB
Authority forgets a dying kingZ
Laid widow'd of the power in his eyeQ2
That bow'd the will I see thee what thou artA
For thou the latest left of all my knightsY2
In whom should meet the offices of allN
Thou wouldst betray me for the precious hiltA
Either from lust of gold or like a girlA3
Valuing the giddy pleasure of the eyesY2
Yet for a man may fail in duty twiceY2
And the third time may prosper get thee henceY2
But if thou spare to fling ExcaliburM
I will arise and slay thee with my hands quotA
-
Then quickly rose Sir Bedivere and ranC
And leaping down the ridges lightly plungedA
Among the bulrush beds and clutch'd the swordA
And strongly wheel'd and threw it The great brandA
Made lightnings in the splendour of the moonG2
And flashing round and round and whirl'd in an archB3
Shot like a streamer of the northern mornU
Seen where the moving isles of winter shockZ
By night with noises of the northern seaB
So flash'd and fell the brand ExcaliburM
But ere he dipt the surface rose an armO
Clothed in white samite mystic wonderfulY
And caught him by the hilt and brandish'd himO
Three times and drew him under in the mereM
And lightly went the other to the KingZ
-
Then spoke King Arthur drawing thicker breathW2
quot Now see I by thine eyes that this is doneK
Speak out what is it thou hast heard or seen quotA
-
And answer made the bold Sir BedivereM
quot Sir King I closed mine eyelids lest the gemsY2
Should blind my purpose for I never sawY2
Nor shall see here or elsewhere till I dieA
Not tho' I live three lives of mortal menS
So great a miracle as yonder hiltA
Then with both hands I flung him wheeling himO
But when I look'd again behold an armO
Clothed in white samite mystic wonderfulY
That caught him by the hilt and brandish'd himO
Three times and drew him under in the mere quotA
-
And answer made King Arthur breathing hardA
quot My end draws nigh 't is time that I were goneC3
Make broad thy shoulders to receive my weightA
And bear me to the margin yet I fearM
My wound hath taken cold and I shall die quotA
-
So saying from the pavement he half roseY2
Slowly with pain reclining on his armO
And looking wistfully with wide blue eyesY2
As in a picture Him Sir BedivereM
Remorsefully regarded thro' his tearsY2
And would have spoken but he found not wordsY2
Then took with care and kneeling on one kneeB
O'er both his shoulders drew the languid handA

Alfred Lord Tennyson



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