The Twilight Of The Lords Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCCBBCCBBCBCCD ABEEBBEEBBEBEEE ABBBBBBBBBBBBEE| I | A |
| Is the sound a trumpet blown or a bell for burial tolled | B |
| Whence the whole air vibrates now to the clash of words like swords | C |
| 'Let us break their bonds in sunder and cast away their cords | C |
| Long enough the world has mocked us and marvelled to behold | B |
| How the grown man bears the curb whence his boyhood was controlled' | B |
| Nay but hearken surer counsel more sober speech affords | C |
| 'Is the past not all inscribed with the praises of our Lords | C |
| Is the memory dead of deeds done of yore the love grown cold | B |
| That should bind our hearts to trust in their counsels wise and bold | B |
| These that stand against you now senseless crowds and heartless hordes | C |
| Are not these the sons of men that withstood your kings of old | B |
| Theirs it is to bind and loose theirs the key that knows the wards | C |
| Theirs the staff to lead or smite yours the spades and ploughs and hods | C |
| Theirs to hear and yours to cry Power is yours O Lords our Gods ' | D |
| - | |
| II | A |
| Hear O England these are they that would counsel thee aright | B |
| Wouldst thou fain have all thy sons sons of thine indeed and free | E |
| Nay but then no more at all as thou hast been shalt thou be | E |
| Needs must many dwell in darkness that some may look on light | B |
| Needs must poor men brook the wrong that ensures the rich man's right | B |
| How shall kings and lords be worshipped if no man bow the knee | E |
| How if no man worship these may thy praise endure with thee | E |
| How except thou trust in these shall thy name not lose its might | B |
| These have had their will of thee since the Norman came to smite | B |
| Sires on grandsires even as wave after wave along the sea | E |
| Sons on sires have followed steadfast as clouds or hours in flight | B |
| Time alone hath power to say time alone hath eyes to see | E |
| If your walls of rule be built but of clay compacted sods | E |
| If your place of old shall know you no more O Lords our Gods | E |
| - | |
| III | A |
| Through the stalls wherein ye sit sounds a sentence while we wait | B |
| Set your house in order is it not builded on the sand | B |
| Set your house in order seeing the night is hard at hand | B |
| As the twilight of the Gods in the northern dream of fate | B |
| Is this hour that comes against you albeit this hour come late | B |
| Ye whom Time and Truth bade heed and ye would not understand | B |
| Now an axe draws nigh the tree overshadowing all the land | B |
| And its edge of doom is set to the root of all your state | B |
| Light is more than darkness now faith than fear and hope than hate | B |
| And what morning wills behold all the night shall not withstand | B |
| Rods of office helms of rule staffs of wise men crowns of great | B |
| While the people willed ye bare now their hopes and hearts expand | B |
| Time with silent foot makes dust of your broken crowns and rods | E |
| And the lordship of your godhead is gone O Lords our Gods | E |
Algernon Charles Swinburne
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