The Ballad Of The White Lady Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB ADA AEFE GHIH DAJA KLML NOPO QRS JTGU RMV GWXW YZAZ A2RGB2 MAZA C2TD2 E2F2G2F2 B2JAJ H2I2EW MTZT RSJ2S JAM K2I2G2W XL2M2L2 ZAG2| SIR GEOFFREY met the white lady | A |
| Upon his marriage morn | B |
| Her eyes were blue as cornflowers are | C |
| Her hair was gold like corn | B |
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| Sir Geoffrey gave the white lady | A |
| A posy of roses seven | D |
| 'You are the fairest May ' said he | A |
| 'That ever strayed from Heaven ' | - |
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| Sir Geoffrey by the white lady | A |
| Was lured away to shame | E |
| For seven long years of prayers and tears | F |
| No tidings of him came | E |
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| Then she who should have been his bride | G |
| A mighty oath she swore | H |
| 'For seven long years I have wept and prayed | I |
| Now I will pray no more | H |
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| 'Since God and all the saints of Heaven | D |
| Bring not my lord to me | A |
| I will go down myself to hell | J |
| And bring him back ' said she | A |
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| She crept to the white lady's bower | K |
| The taper's flame was dim | L |
| And there Sir Geoffrey lay asleep | M |
| And the white witch sat by him | L |
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| Her arm was laid across his neck | N |
| Her gold hair on his face | O |
| And there was silence in the room | P |
| As in a burial place | O |
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| And there were gems and carven cups | Q |
| And 'broidered bridal gear | R |
| 'Whose bridal is this ' the lady said | S |
| 'And what knight have ye here ' | - |
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| 'The good knight here ye know full well | J |
| He was your lord I trow | T |
| But I have taken him from your side | G |
| And I am his lady now | U |
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| 'This seven year with right good cheer | R |
| We twain our bridal keep | M |
| So take for your mate another knight | V |
| And let my dear lord sleep ' | - |
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| Then up and spake Sir Geoffrey's bride | G |
| 'What bridal cheer is this | W |
| I would think scorn to have the lips | X |
| Who could not have the kiss | W |
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| 'I would think scorn to take the half | Y |
| Who could not have the whole | Z |
| I would think scorn to steal the body | A |
| Who could not take the soul | Z |
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| 'For though ye hold his body fast | A2 |
| This seven weary year | R |
| His soul walks ever at my side | G |
| And whispers in my ear | B2 |
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| 'I would think scorn to hold in sleep | M |
| What if it waked would flee | A |
| So let his body join his soul | Z |
| And both fare forth with me | A |
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| 'For I have learned a spell more strong | C2 |
| Than yours that laid him low | T |
| And I will speak it for his sake | D2 |
| Because I love him so ' | - |
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| The white lady threw back her hair | E2 |
| Her eyes began to shine | F2 |
| 'His soul is thine these seven years | G2 |
| To night it shall be mine | F2 |
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| 'I have been brave to hold him here | B2 |
| While seven long years befell | J |
| Rather than let a bridal be | A |
| Whose seed should flower in hell | J |
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| 'I have not looked into his eyes | H2 |
| Nor joined my lips to his | I2 |
| For fear his soul should spring to flame | E |
| And shrivel at my kiss | W |
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| 'I have been brave to watch his sleep | M |
| While the long hours come and go | T |
| To hold the body without the soul | Z |
| Because I love him so | T |
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| 'But since his soul this seven year | R |
| Has sat by thee ' she said | S |
| 'His body and soul to night shall lie | J2 |
| Upon my golden bed | S |
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| 'Thou hast no need to speak the spell | J |
| That thou hast learned ' said she | A |
| 'For I will wake him from his sleep | M |
| And take his soul from thee ' | - |
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| She stooped above him where he lay | K2 |
| She laid her lips on his | I2 |
| He stirred he spake 'These seven long years | G2 |
| I have waited for thy kiss | W |
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| 'My soul has hung upon thy lips | X |
| And trembled at thy breath | L2 |
| Thou hast given me life in a cup to drink | M2 |
| As God will give me death | L2 |
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| 'Why didst thou fear to kill my soul | Z |
| Which only lives for thee | A |
| Thou hast put seven wasted years | G2 |
| O love 'twixt thee and me ' | - |
Edith Nesbit
(1)
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