Auld Maitland Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCC CCDB ECFC GCCC HFCC CCCC EIJI KKFK JCLC KCKF LCLC FFCF CJCJ FCJC KFFF MKKK NFCF COJP KJQJ CJJJ RFKF KFKF CFCJ FCEC CJKJ KCJC BJFJ FJEJ KJKS TKJK TKFK JFUF EKKK KFVJ CKCK VKWK FKVK BCKC KJEJ KJKJ KKEK VKJK VJKJ KJKJ KJKJ KKKK KJJJ JSJJ JJJJ EKKK KJJJ JSJJ JKEJ VJKJ KJKJ KJKJ EJKJ JJKJ KJKJ EKKK KJJJ JJJJ KJEJ KJKJ JJJJ

There lived a king in southern landA
King Edward hight his nameB
Unwordily he wore the crownC
Till fifty years were ganeC
-
He had a sister's son o's ainC
Was large of blood and baneC
And afterward when he came upD
Young Edward hight his nameB
-
One day he came before the kingE
And kneel'd low on his kneeC
A boon a boon my good uncleF
I crave to ask of theeC
-
At our lang wars in fair ScotlandG
I fain ha'e wish'd to beC
If fifteen hundred waled wight menC
You'll grant to ride with meC
-
Thou shall ha'e thae thou shall ha'e maeH
I say it sickerlieF
And I myself an auld gray manC
Array'd your host shall seeC
-
King Edward rade King Edward ranC
I wish him dool and pyneC
Till he had fifteen hundred menC
Assembled on the TyneC
-
And thrice as many at BerwickeE
Were all for battle boundI
Who marching forth with false DunbarJ
A ready welcome foundI
-
They lighted on the banks of TweedK
And blew their coals sae hetK
And fired the Merse and TeviotdaleF
All in an evening lateK
-
As they fared up o'er LammermoorJ
They burn'd baith up and downC
Until they came to a darksome houseL
Some call it Leader TownC
-
Wha hauds this house young Edward criedK
Or wha gi'est o'er to meC
A gray hair'd knight set up his headK
And crackit right crouselyF
-
Of Scotland's king I haud my houseL
He pays me meat and feeC
And I will keep my gude auld houseL
While my house will keep meC
-
They laid their sowies to the wallF
With mony a heavy pealF
But he threw o'er to them agenC
Baith pitch and tar barrelF
-
With springalds stanes and gads of airnC
Amang them fast he threwJ
Till mony of the EnglishmenC
About the wall he slewJ
-
Full fifteen days that braid host layF
Sieging Auld Maitland keenC
Syne they ha'e left him hail and feirJ
Within his strength of staneC
-
Then fifteen barks all gaily goodK
Met them upon a dayF
Which they did lade with as much spoilF
As they you'd bear awayF
-
England's our ain by heritageM
And what can us withstandK
Now we ha'e conquer'd fair ScotlandK
With buckler bow and brandK
-
Then they are on to the land of FranceN
Where auld king Edward layF
Burning baith castle tower and townC
That he met in his wayF
-
Until he came unto that townC
Which some call Billop GraceO
There were Auld Maitland's sons all threeJ
Learning at school alasP
-
The eldest to the youngest saidK
Oh see ye what I seeJ
If all be true yon standard saysQ
We're fatherless all threeJ
-
For Scotland's conquer'd up and downC
Landmen we'll never beJ
Now will you go my brethren twoJ
And try some jeopardyJ
-
Then they ha'e saddled twa black horseR
Twa black horse and a grayF
And they are on to king Edward's hostK
Before the dawn of dayF
-
When they arrived before the hostK
They hover'd on the layF
Wilt thou lend me our king's standardK
To bear a little wayF
-
Where wast thou bred where wast thou bornC
Where or in what countrieF
In north of England I was bornC
It needed him to leeJ
-
A knight me gat a ladye boreF
I am a squire of high renownC
I well may bear't to any kingE
That ever yet wore crownC
-
He ne'er came of an EnglishmanC
Had sic an e'e or breeJ
But thou art the likest Auld MaitlandK
That ever I did seeJ
-
But sic a gloom on ae browheadK
Grant I ne'er see againC
For mony of our men he slewJ
And mony put to painC
-
When Maitland heard his father's nameB
An angry man was heJ
Then lifting up a gilt daggerF
Hung low down by his kneeJ
-
He stabb'd the knight the standard boreF
He stabb'd him cruellieJ
Then caught the standard by the neukE
And fast away rode heJ
-
Now is't na time brothers he criedK
Now is't na time to fleeJ
Ay by my sooth they baith repliedK
We'll bear you companyeS
-
The youngest turn'd him in a pathT
And drew a burnish'd brandK
And fifteen of the foremost slewJ
Till back the lave did standK
-
He spurr'd the gray into the pathT
Till baith his sides they bledK
Gray thou maun carry me awayF
Or my life lies in wadK
-
The captain lookit o'er the wallJ
About the break of dayF
There he beheld the three Scots ladsU
Pursued along the wayF
-
Pull up portcullize down draw brigE
My nephews are at handK
And they shall lodge with me to nightK
In spite of all EnglandK
-
Whene'er they came within the yateK
They thrust their horse them fraeF
And took three lang spears in their handsV
Saying Here shall come nae meJ
-
And they shot out and they shot inC
Till it was fairly dayK
When mony of the EnglishmenC
About the draw brig layK
-
Then they ha'e yoked the carts and wainsV
To ca' their dead awayK
And shot auld dykes abune the laveW
In gutters where they layK
-
The king at his pavilion doorF
Was heard aloud to sayK
Last night three of the lads of FranceV
My standard stole awayK
-
With a fause tale disguised they cameB
And with a fauser trayneC
And to regain my gaye standardK
These men where all down slayneC
-
It ill befits the youngest saidK
A crowned king to leeJ
But or that I taste meat and drinkE
Reproved shall he beJ
-
He went before king Edward straightK
And kneel'd low on his kneeJ
I wou'd ha'e leave my lord he saidK
To speak a word with theeJ
-
The king he turn'd him round aboutK
And wistna what to sayK
Quo' he Man thou's ha'e leave to speakE
Though thou should speak all dayK
-
Ye said that three young lads of FranceV
Your standard stole awayK
With a fause tale and fauser trayneJ
And mony men did slayK
-
But we are nane the lads of FranceV
Nor e'er pretend to beJ
We are three lads of fair ScotlandK
Auld Maitland's sons are weJ
-
Nor is there men in all your hostK
Daur fight us three to threeJ
Now by my sooth young Edward saidK
Weel fitted ye shall beJ
-
Piercy shall with the eldest fightK
And Ethert Lunn with theeJ
William of Lancaster the thirdK
And bring your fourth to meJ
-
Remember Piercy aft the ScotK
Has cower'd beneath thy handK
For every drap of Maitland bloodK
I'll gi'e a rig of landK
-
He clanked Piercy o'er the headK
A deep wound and a sairJ
Till the best blood of his bodyJ
Came running down his hairJ
-
Now I've slayne ane slay ye the twaJ
And that's gude companyeS
And if the twa shou'd slay ye baithJ
Ye'se get nae help frae meJ
-
But Ethert Lunn a baited bearJ
Had many battles seenJ
He set the youngest wonder sairJ
Till the eldest he grew keenJ
-
I am nae king nor nae sic thingE
My word it shanna standK
For Ethert shall a buffet bideK
Come he beneath my brandK
-
He clankit Ethert o'er the headK
A deep wound and a sairJ
Till the best blood in his bodyJ
Came running o'er his hairJ
-
Now I've slayne twa slay ye the aneJ
Isna that gude companyeS
And though the ane shou'd slay ye baithJ
Ye'se get nae help of meJ
-
The twa some they ha'e slayne the aneJ
They maul'd him cruellieK
Then hung him over the draw brigE
That all the host might seeJ
-
They rade their horse they ran their horseV
Then hover'd on the leeJ
We be three lads of fair ScotlandK
That fain wou'd fighting seeJ
-
This boasting when young Edward heardK
An angry man was heJ
I'll take yon lad I'll bind yon ladK
And bring him bound to theeJ
-
Now God forbid king Edward saidK
That ever thou shou'd tryJ
Three worthy leaders we ha'e lostK
And thou the forth wou'd lieJ
-
If thou shou'dst hang on yon draw brigE
Blythe wou'd I never beJ
But with the poll axe in his handK
Upon the brig sprang beJ
-
The first stroke that young Edward ga'eJ
He struck with might and mainJ
He clove the Maitland's helmet stoutK
And bit right nigh the brainJ
-
When Maitland saw his ain blood fallK
An angry man was heJ
He let his weapon frae him fallK
And at his throat did fleeJ
-
And thrice about he did him swingE
Till on the ground he lightK
Where he has halden young EdwardK
Tho' he was great in mightK
-
Now let him up king Edward criedK
And let him come to meJ
And for the deed that thou hast doneJ
Thou shalt ha'e earldomes threeJ
-
It's ne'er be said in France nor e'erJ
In Scotland when I'm hameJ
That Edward once lay under meJ
And e'er gat up againJ
-
He pierced him through and through the heartK
He maul'd him cruellieJ
Then hung him o'er the draw brigE
Beside the other threeJ
-
Now take frae me that feather bedK
Make me a bed of straeJ
I wish I hadna lived this dayK
To make my heart sae waeJ
-
If I were ance at London Tow'rJ
Where I was wont to beJ
I never mair shou'd gang frae hameJ
Till borne on a bier treeJ

Andrew Lang



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