Tristram Of Lyonesse - Ii - The Queen's Pleasance Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJK LMIIINNNKJJOOFFNNPPQ RAADDFFNNDDNNSSDDTTD DDDEEDDNNTTNNUUPPVVW WNNXXNNTTNNFFNNNNTTN NAANNNNNYYZZNNA2A2VV B2B2FFDDTTC2C2NND2D2 NNDDUUNNNNNNNNNE2E2X XF2F2NNNNNNG2G2PPNNT TE2E2TTTTPPNNH2H2C2C 2I2I2J2J2GGE2E2K2K2T TTTFFL2L2E2E2NNDDNND DNNNNM2N2NNNNNNTTNNE 2E2NNNAAI2I2I2I2I2NN AAAPPDDNNDDI2I2NNNO2 O2TTC2C2NNP2P2DDNNND DG2G2NNAAI2I2Q2R2I2I 2S2S2C2C2DDNNDDNNAAI 2I2T2T2TTE2E2T2T2FFU 2U2DDGGYYNNNNNNE2E2N NPPNNFFV2W2TTX2X2TTN NNNNY2Z2A3A3B3C3D3D3 PPI2I2DDS2S2E3E3NNI2 I2I2I2NNNEENNNNE2E2N NNNNNNNNNNNNNDDI2I2D DE2E2Z2Y2NNTTDDVVYYE ENNO2O2YYNNW2W2F3F3N NI2I2F3F3NNS2S2TTNND DF3F3F3F3NNI2I2G3G3N NE2E2NNNNNNFFF3F3F3P PPNNF3F3DD

Out of the night arose the second day	A
And saw the ship's bows break the shoreward spray	A
As the sun's boat of gold and fire began	B
To sail the sea of heaven unsailed of man	B
And the soft waves of sacred air to break	C
Round the prow launched into the morning's lake	C
They saw the sign of their sea travel done	D
Ah was not something seen of yester sun	D
When the sweet light that lightened all the skies	E
Saw nothing fairer than one maiden's eyes	E
That whatsoever in all time's years may be	F
To day's sun nor to morrow's sun shall see	F
Not while she lives not when she comes to die	G
Shall she look sunward with that sinless eye	G
Yet fairer now than song may show them stand	H
Tristram and Iseult hand in amorous hand	H
Soul satisfied their eyes made great and bright	I
With all the love of all the livelong night	I
With all its hours yet singing in their ears	J
No mortal music made of thoughts and tears	K
But such a song past conscience of man's thought	L
As hearing he grows god and knows it not	M
Nought else they saw nor heard but what the night	I
Had left for seal upon their sense and sight	I
Sound of past pulses beating fire of amorous light	I
Enough and overmuch and never yet	N
Enough though love still hungering feed and fret	N
To fill the cup of night which dawn must overset	N
For still their eyes were dimmer than with tears	K
And dizzier from diviner sounds their ears	J
Than though from choral thunders of the quiring spheres	J
They heard not how the landward waters rang	O
Nor saw where high into the morning sprang	O
Riven from the shore and bastioned with the sea	F
Toward summits where the north wind's nest might be	F
A wave walled palace with its eastern gate	N
Full of the sunrise now and wide at wait	N
And on the mighty moulded stairs that clomb	P
Sheer from the fierce lip of the lapping foam	P
The knights of Mark that stood before the wall	Q
So with loud joy and storm of festival	R
They brought the bride in up the towery way	A
That rose against the rising front of day	A
Stair based on stair between the rocks unhewn	D
To those strange halls wherethrough the tidal tune	D
Rang loud or lower from soft or strengthening sea	F
Tower shouldering tower to windward and to lee	F
With change of floors and stories flight on flight	N
That clomb and curled up to the crowning height	N
Whence men might see wide east and west in one	D
And on one sea waned moon and mounting sun	D
And severed from the sea rock's base where stand	N
Some worn walls yet they saw the broken strand	N
The beachless cliff that in the sheer sea dips	S
The sleepless shore inexorable to ships	S
And the straight causeway's bare gaunt spine between	D
The sea spanned walls and naked mainland's green	D
On the mid stairs between the light and dark	T
Before the main tower's portal stood King Mark	T
Crowned and his face was as the face of one	D
Long time athirst and hungering for the sun	D
In barren thrall of bitter bonds who now	D
Thinks here to feel its blessing on his brow	D
A swart lean man but kinglike still of guise	E
With black streaked beard and cold unquiet eyes	E
Close mouthed gaunt cheeked wan as a morning moon	D
Though hardly time on his worn hair had strewn	D
The thin first ashes from a sparing hand	N
Yet little fire there burnt upon the brand	N
And way worn seemed he with life's wayfaring	T
So between shade and sunlight stood the king	T
And his face changed nor yearned not toward his bride	N
But fixed between mild hope and patient pride	N
Abode what gift of rare or lesser worth	U
This day might bring to all his days on earth	U
But at the glory of her when she came	P
His heart endured not very fear and shame	P
Smote him to take her by the hand and kiss	V
Till both were molten in the burning bliss	V
And with a thin flame flushing his cold face	W
He led her silent to the bridal place	W
There were they wed and hallowed of the priest	N
And all the loud time of the marriage feast	N
One thought within three hearts was as a fire	X
Where craft and faith took counsel with desire	X
For when the feast had made a glorious end	N
They gave the new queen for her maids to tend	N
At dawn of bride night and thereafter bring	T
With marriage music to the bridegroom king	T
Then by device of craft between them laid	N
To him went Brangwain delicately and prayed	N
That this thing even for love's sake might not be	F
But without sound or light or eye to see	F
She might come in to bride bed and he laughed	N
As one that wist not well of wise love's craft	N
And bade all bridal things be as she would	N
Yet of his gentleness he gat not good	N
For clothed and covered with the nuptial dark	T
Soft like a bride came Brangwain to King Mark	T
And to the queen came Tristram and the night	N
Fled and ere danger of detective light	N
From the king sleeping Brangwain slid away	A
And where had lain her handmaid Iseult lay	A
And the king waking saw beside his head	N
That face yet passion coloured amorous red	N
From lips not his and all that strange hair shed	N
Across the tissued pillows fold on fold	N
Innumerable incomparable all gold	N
To fire men's eyes with wonder and with love	Y
Men's hearts so shone its flowering crown above	Y
The brows enwound with that imperial wreath	Z
And framed with fragrant radiance round the face beneath	Z
And the king marvelled seeing with sudden start	N
Her very glory and said out of his heart	N
What have I done of good for God to bless	A2
That all this he should give me tress on tress	A2
All this great wealth and wondrous Was it this	V
That in mine arms I had all night to kiss	V
And mix with me this beauty this that seems	B2
More fair than heaven doth in some tired saint's dreams	B2
Being part of that same heaven yea more for he	F
Though loved of God so yet but seems to see	F
But to me sinful such great grace is given	D
That in mine hands I hold this part of heaven	D
Not to mine eyes lent merely Doth God make	T
Such things so godlike for man's mortal sake	T
Have I not sinned that in this fleshly life	C2
Have made of her a mere man's very wife	C2
So the king mused and murmured and she heard	N
The faint sound trembling of each breathless word	N
And laughed into the covering of her hair	D2
And many a day for many a month as fair	D2
Slid over them like music and as bright	N
Burned with love's offerings many a secret night	N
And many a dawn to many a fiery noon	D
Blew prelude when the horn's heart kindling tune	D
Lit the live woods with sovereign sound of mirth	U
Before the mightiest huntsman hailed on earth	U
Lord of its lordliest pleasure where he rode	N
Hard by her rein whose peerless presence glowed	N
Not as that white queen's of the virgin hunt	N
Once whose crown crescent braves the night wind's brunt	N
But with the sun for frontlet of a queenlier front	N
For where the flashing of her face was turned	N
As lightning was the fiery light that burned	N
From eyes and brows enkindled more with speed	N
And rapture of the rushing of her steed	N
Than once with only beauty and her mouth	E2
Was as a rose athirst that pants for drouth	E2
Even while it laughs for pleasure of desire	X
And all her heart was as a leaping fire	X
Yet once more joy they took of woodland ways	F2
Than came of all those flushed and fiery days	F2
When the loud air was mad with life and sound	N
Through many a dense green mile of horn and hound	N
Before the king's hunt going along the wind	N
And ere the timely leaves were changed or thinned	N
Even in mid maze of summer For the knight	N
Forth was once ridden toward some frontier fight	N
Against the lewd folk of the Christless lands	G2
That warred with wild and intermittent hands	G2
Against the king's north border and there came	P
A knight unchristened yet of unknown name	P
Swart Palamede upon a secret quest	N
To high Tintagel and abode as guest	N
In likeness of a minstrel with the king	T
Nor was there man could sound so sweet a string	T
Save Tristram only of all held best on earth	E2
And one loud eve being full of wine and mirth	E2
Ere sunset left the walls and waters dark	T
To that strange minstrel strongly swore King Mark	T
By all that makes a knight's faith firm and strong	T
That he for guerdon of his harp and song	T
Might crave and have his liking Straight there came	P
Up the swart cheek a flash of swarthier flame	P
And the deep eyes fulfilled of glittering night	N
Laughed out in lightnings of triumphant light	N
As the grim harper spake O king I crave	H2
No gift of man that king may give to slave	H2
But this thy crowned queen only this thy wife	C2
Whom yet unseen I loved and set my life	C2
On this poor chance to compass even as here	I2
Being fairer famed than all save Guenevere	I2
Then as the noise of seaward storm that mocks	J2
With roaring laughter from reverberate rocks	J2
The cry from ships near shipwreck harsh and high	G
Rose all the wrath and wonder in one cry	G
Through all the long roof's hollow depth and length	E2
That hearts of strong men kindled in their strength	E2
May speak in laughter lion like and cease	K2
Being wearied only two men held their peace	K2
And each glared hard on other but King Mark	T
Spake first of these Man though thy craft be dark	T
And thy mind evil that begat this thing	T
Yet stands the word once plighted of a king	T
Fast and albeit less evil it were for me	F
To give my life up than my wife or be	F
A landless man crowned only with a curse	L2
Yet this in God's and all men's sight were worse	L2
To live soul shamed a man of broken troth	E2
Abhorred of men as I abhor mine oath	E2
Which yet I may forswear not And he bowed	N
His head and wept and all men wept aloud	N
Save one that heard him weeping but the queen	D
Wept not and statelier yet than eyes had seen	D
That ever looked upon her queenly state	N
She rose and in her eyes her heart was great	N
And full of wrath seen manifest and scorn	D
More strong than anguish to go thence forlorn	D
Of all men's comfort and her natural right	N
And they went forth into the dawn of night	N
Long by wild ways and clouded light they rode	N
Silent and fear less keen at heart abode	N
With Iseult than with Palamede for awe	M2
Constrained him and the might of love's high law	N2
That can make lewd men loyal and his heart	N
Yearned on her if perchance with amorous art	N
And soothfast skill of very love he might	N
For courtesy find favour in her sight	N
And comfort of her mercies for he wist	N
More grace might come of that sweet mouth unkissed	N
Than joy for violence done it that should make	T
His name abhorred for shame's disloyal sake	T
And in the stormy starlight clouds were thinned	N
And thickened by short gusts of changing wind	N
That panted like a sick man's fitful breath	E2
And like a moan of lions hurt to death	E2
Came the sea's hollow noise along the night	N
But ere its gloom from aught but foam had light	N
They halted being aweary and the knight	N
As reverently forbore her where she lay	A
As one that watched his sister's sleep till day	A
Nor durst he kiss or touch her hand or hair	I2
For love and shamefast pity seeing how fair	I2
She slept and fenceless from the fitful air	I2
And shame at heart stung nigh to death desire	I2
But grief at heart burned in him like a fire	I2
For hers and his own sorrowing sake that had	N
Such grace for guerdon as makes glad men sad	N
To have their will and want it And the day	A
Sprang and afar along the wild waste way	A
They heard the pulse and press of hurrying horse hoofs play	A
And like the rushing of a ravenous flame	P
Whose wings make tempest of the darkness came	P
Upon them headlong as in thunder borne	D
Forth of the darkness of the labouring morn	D
Tristram and up forthright upon his steed	N
Leapt as one blithe of battle Palamede	N
And mightily with shock of horse and man	D
They lashed together and fair that fight began	D
As fair came up that sunrise to and fro	I2
With knees nigh staggered and stout heads bent low	I2
From each quick shock of spears on either side	N
Reeled the strong steeds heavily haggard eyed	N
And heartened high with passion of their pride	N
As sheer the stout spears shocked again and flew	O2
Sharp splintering then his sword as each knight drew	O2
They flashed and foined full royally so long	T
That but to see so fair a strife and strong	T
A man might well have given out of his life	C2
One year's void space forlorn of love or strife	C2
As when a bright north easter great of heart	N
Scattering the strengths of squadrons hurls apart	N
Ship from ship labouring violently in such toil	P2
As earns but ruin with even so strong recoil	P2
Back were the steeds hurled from the spear shock fain	D
And foiled of triumph then with tightened rein	D
And stroke of spur inveterate either knight	N
Bore in again upon his foe with might	N
Heart hungry for the hot mouthed feast of fight	N
And all athirst of mastery but full soon	D
The jarring notes of that tempestuous tune	D
Fell and its mighty music made of hands	G2
Contending clamorous through the loud waste lands	G2
Broke at once off and shattered from his steed	N
Fell as a mainmast ruining Palamede	N
Stunned and those lovers left him where he lay	A
And lightly through green lawns they rode away	A
There was a bower beyond man's eye more fair	I2
Than ever summer dews and sunniest air	I2
Fed full with rest and radiance till the boughs	Q2
Had wrought a roof as for a holier house	R2
Than aught save love might breathe in fairer far	I2
Than keeps the sweet light back of moon and star	I2
From high kings' chambers there might love and sleep	S2
Divide for joy the darkling hours and keep	S2
With amorous alternation of sweet strife	C2
The soft and secret ways of death and life	C2
Made smooth for pleasure's feet to rest and run	D
Even from the moondawn to the kindling sun	D
Made bright for passion's feet to run and rest	N
Between the midnight's and the morning's breast	N
Where hardly though her happy head lie down	D
It may forget the hour that wove its crown	D
Where hardly though her joyous limbs be laid	N
They may forget the mirth that midnight made	N
And thither ere sweet night had slain sweet day	A
Iseult and Tristram took their wandering way	A
And rested and refreshed their hearts with cheer	I2
In hunters' fashion of the woods and here	I2
More sweet it seemed while this might be to dwell	T2
And take of all world's weariness farewell	T2
Than reign of all world's lordship queen and king	T
Nor here would time for three moons' changes bring	T
Sorrow nor thought of sorrow but sweet earth	E2
Fostered them like her babes of eldest birth	E2
Reared warm in pathless woods and cherished well	T2
And the sun sprang above the sea and fell	T2
And the stars rose and sank upon the sea	F
And outlaw like in forest wise and free	F
The rising and the setting of their lights	U2
Found those twain dwelling all those days and nights	U2
And under change of sun and star and moon	D
Flourished and fell the chaplets woven of June	D
And fair through fervours of the deepening sky	G
Panted and passed the hours that lit July	G
And each day blessed them out of heaven above	Y
And each night crowned them with the crown of love	Y
Nor till the might of August overhead	N
Weighed on the world was yet one roseleaf shed	N
Of all their joy's warm coronal nor aught	N
Touched them in passing ever with a thought	N
That ever this might end on any day	N
Or any night not love them where they lay	N
But like a babbling tale of barren breath	E2
Seemed all report and rumour held of death	E2
And a false bruit the legend tear impearled	N
That such a thing as change was in the world	N
And each bright song upon his lips that came	P
Mocking the powers of change and death by name	P
Blasphemed their bitter godhead and defied	N
Time though clothed round with ruin as kings with pride	N
To blot the glad life out of love and she	F
Drank lightly deep of his philosophy	F
In that warm wine of amorous words which is	V2
Sweet with all truths of all philosophies	W2
For well he wist all subtle ways of song	T
And in his soul the secret eye was strong	T
That burns in meditation till bright words	X2
Break flamelike forth as notes from fledgeling birds	X2
That feel the soul speak through them of the spring	T
So fared they night and day as queen and king	T
Crowned of a kingdom wide as day and night	N
Nor ever cloudlet swept or swam in sight	N
Across the darkling depths of their delight	N
Whose stars no skill might number nor man's art	N
Sound the deep stories of its heavenly heart	N
Till even for wonder that such life should live	Y2
Desires and dreams of what death's self might give	Z2
Would touch with tears and laughter and wild speech	A3
The lips and eyes of passion fain to reach	A3
Beyond all bourne of time or trembling sense	B3
The verge of love's last possible eminence	C3
Out of the heaven that storm nor shadow mars	D3
Deep from the starry depth beyond the stars	D3
A yearning ardour without scope or name	P
Fell on them and the bright night's breath of flame	P
Shot fire into their kisses and like fire	I2
The lit dews lightened on the leaves as higher	I2
Night's heart beat on toward midnight Far and fain	D
Somewhiles the soft rush of rejoicing rain	D
Solaced the darkness and from steep to steep	S2
Of heaven they saw the sweet sheet lightning leap	S2
And laugh its heart out in a thousand smiles	E3
When the clear sea for miles on glimmering miles	E3
Burned as though dawn were strewn abroad astray	N
Or showering out of heaven all heaven's array	N
Had paven instead the waters fain and far	I2
Somewhiles the burning love of star for star	I2
Spake words that love might wellnigh seem to hear	I2
In such deep hours as turn delight to fear	I2
Sweet as delight's self ever So they lay	N
Tranced once nor watched along the fiery bay	N
The shine of summer darkness palpitate and play	N
She had nor sight nor voice her swooning eyes	E
Knew not if night or light were in the skies	E
Across her beauty sheer the moondawn shed	N
Its light as on a thing as white and dead	N
Only with stress of soft fierce hands she prest	N
Between the throbbing blossoms of her breast	N
His ardent face and through his hair her breath	E2
Went quivering as when life is hard on death	E2
And with strong trembling fingers she strained fast	N
His head into her bosom till at last	N
Satiate with sweetness of that burning bed	N
His eyes afire with tears he raised his head	N
And laughed into her lips and all his heart	N
Filled hers then face from face fell and apart	N
Each hung on each with panting lips and felt	N
Sense into sense and spirit in spirit melt	N
Hast thou no sword I would not live till day	N
O love this night and we must pass away	N
It must die soon and let not us die late	N
Take then my sword and slay me nay but wait	N
Till day be risen what wouldst thou think to die	N
Before the light take hold upon the sky	N
Yea love for how shall we have twice being twain	D
This very night of love's most rapturous reign	D
Live thou and have thy day and year by year	I2
Be great but what shall I be Slay me here	I2
Let me die not when love lies dead but now	D
Strike through my heart nay sweet what heart hast thou	D
Is it so much I ask thee and spend my breath	E2
In asking nay thou knowest it is but death	E2
Hadst thou true heart to love me thou wouldst give	Z2
This but for hate's sake thou wilt let me live	Y2
Here he caught up her lips with his and made	N
The wild prayer silent in her heart that prayed	N
And strained her to him till all her faint breath sank	T
And her bright light limbs palpitated and shrank	T
And rose and fluctuated as flowers in rain	D
That bends them and they tremble and rise again	D
And heave and straighten and quiver all through with bliss	V
And turn afresh their mouths up for a kiss	V
Amorous athirst of that sweet influent love	Y
So hungering towards his hovering lips above	Y
Her red rose mouth yearned silent and her eyes	E
Closed and flashed after as through June's darkest skies	E
The divine heartbeats of the deep live light	N
Make open and shut the gates of the outer night	N
Long lay they still subdued with love nor knew	O2
If cloud or light changed colour as it grew	O2
If star or moon beheld them if above	Y
The heaven of night waxed fiery with their love	Y
Or earth beneath were moved at heart and root	N
To burn as they to burn and bring forth fruit	N
Unseasonable for love's sake if tall trees	W2
Bowed and close flowers yearned open and the breeze	W2
Failed and fell silent as a flame that fails	F3
And all that hour unheard the nightingales	F3
Clamoured and all the woodland soul was stirred	N
And depth and height were one great song unheard	N
As though the world caught music and took fire	I2
From the instant heart alone of their desire	I2
So sped their night of nights between them so	F3
For all fears past and shadows shine and snow	F3
That one pure hour all golden where they lay	N
Made their life perfect and their darkness day	N
And warmer waved its harvest yet to reap	S2
Till in the lovely fight of love and sleep	S2
At length had sleep the mastery and the dark	T
Was lit with soft live gleams they might not mark	T
Fleet butterflies each like a dead flower's ghost	N
White blue and sere leaf coloured but the most	N
White as the sparkle of snow flowers in the sun	D
Ere with his breath they lie at noon undone	D
Whose kiss devours their tender beauty and leaves	F3
But raindrops on the grass and sere thin leaves	F3
That were engraven with traceries of the snow	F3
Flowerwise ere any flower of earth's would blow	F3
So swift they sprang and sank so sweet and light	N
They swam the deep dim breathless air of night	N
Now on her rose white amorous breast half bare	I2
Now on her slumberous love dishevelled hair	I2
The white wings lit and vanished and afresh	G3
Lit soft as snow lights on her snow soft flesh	G3
On hand or throat or shoulder and she stirred	N
Sleeping and spake some tremulous bright word	N
And laughed upon some dream too sweet for truth	E2
Yet not so sweet as very love and youth	E2
That there had charmed her eyes to sleep at last	N
Nor woke they till the perfect night was past	N
And the soft sea thrilled with blind hope of light	N
But ere the dusk had well the sun in sight	N
He turned and kissed her eyes awake and said	N
Seeing earth and water neither quick nor dead	N
And twilight hungering toward the day to be	F
As the dawn loves the sunlight I love thee	F
And even as rays with cloudlets in the skies	F3
Confused in brief love's bright contentious wise	F3
Sleep strove with sense rekindling in her eyes	F3
And as the flush of birth scarce overcame	P
The pale pure pearl of unborn light with flame	P
Soft as may touch the rose's heart with shame	P
To break not all reluctant out of bud	N
Stole up her sleeping cheek her waking blood	N
And with the lovely laugh of love that takes	F3
The whole soul prisoner ere the whole sense wakes	F3
Her lips for love's sake bade love's will be done	D
And all the sea lay subject to the sun	D

Algernon Charles Swinburne

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