Cadet Grey: Canto Iii Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A ABABACACC A DEDEDFDFF A GHGHGIGII A AHHHAJAJJ A KLKLKMKMM A HNHNHOHPP A QRQRQSQSS A TUTUTVTVV V WXWYWIWII V ZVZVZPVPP V A2AA2AA2HA2HH V B2TB2C2B2D2B2D2D2 V LE2LE2LF2LF2F2 A G2H2G2H2G2HG2HHI | A |
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Where the sun sinks through leagues of arid sky | A |
Where the sun dies o'er leagues of arid plain | B |
Where the dead bones of wasted rivers lie | A |
Trailed from their channels in yon mountain chain | B |
Where day by day naught takes the wearied eye | A |
But the low rimming mountains sharply based | C |
On the dead levels moving far or nigh | A |
As the sick vision wanders o'er the waste | C |
But ever day by day against the sunset traced | C |
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II | A |
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There moving through a poisonous cloud that stings | D |
With dust of alkali the trampling band | E |
Of Indian ponies ride on dusky wings | D |
The red marauders of the Western land | E |
Heavy with spoil they seek the trail that brings | D |
Their flaunting lances to that sheltered bank | F |
Where lie their lodges and the river sings | D |
Forgetful of the plain beyond that drank | F |
Its life blood where the wasted caravan sank | F |
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III | A |
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They brought with them the thief's ignoble spoil | G |
The beggar's dole the greed of chiffonnier | H |
The scum of camps the implements of toil | G |
Snatched from dead hands to rust as useless here | H |
All they could rake or glean from hut or soil | G |
Piled their lean ponies with the jackdaw's greed | I |
For vacant glitter It were scarce a foil | G |
To all this tinsel that one feathered reed | I |
Bore on its barb two scalps that freshly bleed | I |
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IV | A |
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They brought with them alas a wounded foe | A |
Bound hand and foot yet nursed with cruel care | H |
Lest that in death he might escape one throe | H |
They had decreed his living flesh should bear | H |
A youthful officer by one foul blow | A |
Of treachery surprised yet fighting still | J |
Amid his ambushed train calm as the snow | A |
Above him hopeless yet content to spill | J |
His blood with theirs and fighting but to kill | J |
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V | A |
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He had fought nobly and in that brief spell | K |
Had won the awe of those rude border men | L |
Who gathered round him and beside him fell | K |
In loyal faith and silence save that when | L |
By smoke embarrassed and near sight as well | K |
He paused to wipe his eyeglass and decide | M |
Its nearer focus there arose a yell | K |
Of approbation and Bob Barker cried | M |
Wade in Dundreary tossed his cap and died | M |
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VI | A |
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Their sole survivor now his captors bear | H |
Him all unconscious and beside the stream | N |
Leave him to rest meantime the squaws prepare | H |
The stake for sacrifice nor wakes a gleam | N |
Of pity in those Furies' eyes that glare | H |
Expectant of the torture yet alway | O |
His steadfast spirit shines and mocks them there | H |
With peace they know not till at close of day | P |
On his dull ear there thrills a whispered Grey | P |
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VII | A |
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He starts Was it a trick Had angels kind | Q |
Touched with compassion some weak woman's breast | R |
Such things he'd read of Faintly to his mind | Q |
Came Pocahontas pleading for her guest | R |
But then this voice though soft was still inclined | Q |
To baritone A squaw in ragged gown | S |
Stood near him frowning hatred Was he blind | Q |
Whose eye was this beneath that beetling frown | S |
The frown was painted but that wink meant Brown | S |
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VIII | A |
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Hush for your life and mine the thongs are cut | T |
He whispers in yon thicket stands my horse | U |
One dash I follow close as if to glut | T |
My own revenge yet bar the others' course | U |
Now And 'tis done Grey speeds Brown follows but | T |
Ere yet they reach the shade Grey fainting reels | V |
Yet not before Brown's circling arms close shut | T |
His in uplifting him Anon he feels | V |
A horse beneath him bound and hears the rattling heels | V |
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IX | V |
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Then rose a yell of baffled hate and sprang | W |
Headlong the savages in swift pursuit | X |
Though speed the fugitives they hope to hang | W |
Hot on their heels like wolves with tireless foot | Y |
Long is the chase Brown hears with inward pang | W |
The short hard panting of his gallant steed | I |
Beneath its double burden vainly rang | W |
Both voice and spur The heaving flanks may bleed | I |
Yet comes the sequel that they still must heed | I |
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X | V |
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Brown saw it reined his steed dismounting stood | Z |
Calm and inflexible Old chap you see | V |
There is but ONE escape You know it Good | Z |
There is ONE man to take it You are he | V |
The horse won't carry double If he could | Z |
'Twould but protract this bother I shall stay | P |
I've business with these devils they with me | V |
I will occupy them till you get away | P |
Hush quick time forward There God bless you Grey | P |
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XI | V |
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But as he finished Grey slipped to his feet | A2 |
Calm as his ancestors in voice and eye | A |
You do forget yourself when you compete | A2 |
With him whose RIGHT it is to stay and die | A |
That's not YOUR duty Please regain your seat | A2 |
And take my ORDERS since I rank you here | H |
Mount and rejoin your men and my defeat | A2 |
Report at quarters Take this letter ne'er | H |
Give it to aught but HER nor let aught interfere | H |
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XII | V |
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And shamed and blushing Brown the letter took | B2 |
Obediently and placed it in his pocket | T |
Then drawing forth another said I look | B2 |
For death as you do wherefore take this locket | C2 |
And letter Here his comrade's hand he shook | B2 |
In silence Should we both together fall | D2 |
Some other man but here all speech forsook | B2 |
His lips as ringing cheerily o'er all | D2 |
He heard afar his own dear bugle call | D2 |
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XIII | V |
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'Twas his command and succor but e'en then | L |
Grey fainted with poor Brown who had forgot | E2 |
He likewise had been wounded and both men | L |
Were picked up quite unconscious of their lot | E2 |
Long lay they in extremity and when | L |
They both grew stronger and once more exchanged | F2 |
Old vows and memories one common den | L |
In hospital was theirs and free they ranged | F2 |
Awaiting orders but no more estranged | F2 |
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XIV | A |
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And yet 'twas strange nor can I end my tale | G2 |
Without this moral to be fair and just | H2 |
They never sought to know why each did fail | G2 |
The prompt fulfillment of the other's trust | H2 |
It was suggested they could not avail | G2 |
Themselves of either letter since they were | H |
Duly dispatched to their address by mail | G2 |
By Captain X who knew Miss Rover fair | H |
Now meant stout Mistress Bloggs of Blank Blank Square | H |
Bret Harte
(1)
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