Beowulf (episode 35) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABBCDEFCCBBGCBCHBBHB ICCBCCHJKLCCMCNOPFCC CJQRBHSTUVCMWXHVFHQH BCUMHCBCHCSBBIHPBVQC HYZCBA2B2CHC2D2LRCBU E2B2CCQLRF2HCCCCCCG2 CCCCCCMWHLHMCCYCLH2R BWCWHBCI2QHC

'THEN he goes to his chamber a grief song chantsA
alone for his lost Too large all seemsB
homestead and house So the helmet of WedersB
hid in his heart for HerebealdC
waves of woe No way could he takeD
to avenge on the slayer slaughter so foulE
nor e'en could he harass that hero at allF
with loathing deed though he loved him notC
And so for the sorrow his soul enduredC
men's gladness he gave up and God's light choseB
Lands and cities he left his sonsB
as the wealthy do when he went from earthG
There was strife and struggle 'twixt Swede and GeatC
o'er the width of waters war aroseB
hard battle horror when Hrethel diedC
and Ongentheow's offspring grewH
strife keen bold nor brooked o'er the seasB
pact of peace but pushed their hostsB
to harass in hatred by HreosnabeorhH
Men of my folk for that feud had vengeanceB
for woful war 'tis widely knownI
though one of them bought it with blood of his heartC
a bargain hard for Haethcyn provedC
fatal that fray for the first of GeatsB
At morn I heard was the murderer killedC
by kinsman for kinsman with clash of swordC
when Ongentheow met Eofor thereH
Wide split the war helm wan he fellJ
hoary Scylfing the hand that smote himK
of feud was mindful nor flinched from the death blowL
'For all that he gave me my gleaming swordC
repaid him at war such power I wieldedC
for lordly treasure with land he entrusted meM
homestead and house He had no needC
from Swedish realm or from Spear Dane folkN
or from men of the Gifths to get him helpO
some warrior worse for wage to buyP
Ever I fought in the front of allF
sole to the fore and so shall I fightC
while I bide in life and this blade shall lastC
that early and late hath loyal provedC
since for my doughtiness Daeghrefn fellJ
slain by my hand the Hugas' championQ
Nor fared he thence to the Frisian kingR
with the booty back and breast adornmentsB
but slain in struggle that standard bearerH
fell atheling brave Not with blade was he slainS
but his bones were broken by brawny gripeT
his heart waves stilled The sword edge nowU
hard blade and my hand for the hoard shall strive 'V
Beowulf spake and a battle vow madeC
his last of all 'I have lived through manyM
wars in my youth now once againW
old folk defender feud will I seekX
do doughty deeds if the dark destroyerH
forth from his cavern come to fight me 'V
Then hailed he the helmeted heroes allF
for the last time greeting his liegemen dearH
comrades of war 'I should carry no weaponQ
no sword to the serpent if sure I knewH
how with such enemy else my vowsB
I could gain as I did in Grendel's dayC
But fire in this fight I must fear me nowU
and poisonous breath so I bring with meM
breastplate and board From the barrow's keeperH
no footbreadth flee I One fight shall endC
our war by the wall as Wyrd allotsB
all mankind's master My mood is boldC
but forbears to boast o'er this battling flyerH
Now abide by the barrow ye breastplate mailedC
ye heroes in harness which of us twainS
better from battle rush bear his woundsB
Wait ye the finish The fight is not yoursB
nor meet for any but me aloneI
to measure might with this monster hereH
and play the hero Hardily IP
shall win that wealth or war shall seizeB
cruel killing your king and lord 'V
Up stood then with shield the sturdy championQ
stayed by the strength of his single manhoodC
and hardy 'neath helmet his harness boreH
under cleft of the cliffs no coward's pathY
Soon spied by the wall that warrior chiefZ
survivor of many a victory fieldC
where foemen fought with furious clashingsB
an arch of stone and within a streamA2
that broke from the barrow The brooklet's waveB2
was hot with fire The hoard that wayC
he never could hope unharmed to nearH
or endure those deeps for the dragon's flameC2
Then let from his breast for he burst with rageD2
the Weder Geat prince a word outgoL
stormed the stark heart stern went ringingR
and clear his cry 'neath the cliff rocks grayC
The hoard guard heard a human voiceB
his rage was enkindled No respite nowU
for pact of peace The poison breathE2
of that foul worm first came forth from the caveB2
hot reek of fight the rocks resoundedC
Stout by the stone way his shield he raisedC
lord of the Geats against the loathed oneQ
while with courage keen that coiled foeL
came seeking strife The sturdy kingR
had drawn his sword not dull of edgeF2
heirloom old and each of the twoH
felt fear of his foe though fierce their moodC
Stoutly stood with his shield high raisedC
the warrior king as the worm now coiledC
together amain the mailed one waitedC
Now spire by spire fast sped and glidedC
that blazing serpent The shield protectedC
soul and body a shorter whileG2
for the hero king than his heart desiredC
could his will have wielded the welcome respiteC
but once in his life But Wyrd denied itC
and victory's honors His arm he liftedC
lord of the Geats the grim foe smoteC
with atheling's heirloom Its edge was turnedC
brown blade on the bone and bit more feeblyM
than its noble master had need of thenW
in his baleful stress Then the barrow's keeperH
waxed full wild for that weighty blowL
cast deadly flames wide drove and farH
those vicious fires No victor's gloryM
the Geats' lord boasted his brand had failedC
naked in battle as never it shouldC
excellent iron 'Twas no easy pathY
that Ecgtheow's honored heir must treadC
over the plain to the place of the foeL
for against his will he must win a homeH2
elsewhere far as must all men leavingR
this lapsing life Not long it wasB
ere those champions grimly closed againW
The hoard guard was heartened high heaved hisbreastC
once more and by peril was pressed againW
enfolded in flames the folk commanderH
Nor yet about him his band of comradesB
sons of athelings armed stoodC
with warlike front to the woods they bent themI2
their lives to save But the soul of oneQ
with care was cumbered Kinship trueH
can never be marred in a noble mindC

Anonymous Olde English



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