Costanza Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABC DDEEFFBBGGHIJJKKLLMM NNEEOOPAJAJQQRSTTUU V GGWWXX YYRRZZA2A2B2B2C2C2D2 D2E2E2F2F2NNG2G2H2H2 DDI2I2G2J2J2G2JJI2I2 K2K2BI2I2BI2 MMEESSJJ2L2L2FFM2M2H 2 N2N2QQO2P2Q2Q2 R2R2AAQQShe knelt in prayer A stream of sunset fell | A |
Thro' the stain'd window of her lonely cell | A |
And with its rich deep melancholy glow | B |
Flushing her cheek and pale Madonna brow | C |
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While o'er her long hair's flowing jet it threw | D |
Bright waves of gold the autumn forest's hue | D |
Seem'd all a vision's mist of glory spread | E |
By painting's touch around some holy head | E |
Virgin's or fairest martyr's In her eye | F |
Which glanced as dark clear water to the sky | F |
What solemn fervour lived And yet what wo | B |
Lay like some buried thing still seen below | B |
The glassy tide Oh he that could reveal | G |
What life had taught that chasten'd heart to feel | G |
Might speak indeed of woman's blighted years | H |
And wasted love and vainly bitter tears | I |
But she had told her griefs to heaven alone | J |
And of the gentle saint no more was known | J |
Than that she fled the world's cold breath and made | K |
A temple of the pine and chestnut shade | K |
Filling its depths with soul whene'er her hymn | L |
Rose thro' each murmur of the green and dim | L |
And ancient solitude where hidden streams | M |
Went moaning thro' the grass like sounds in dreams | M |
Music for weary hearts Midst leaves and flowers | N |
She dwelt and knew all secrets of their powers | N |
All nature's balms wherewith her gliding tread | E |
To the sick peasant on his lowly bed | E |
Came and brought hope while scarce of mortal birth | O |
He deem'd the pale fair form that held on earth | O |
Communion but with grief | P |
Ere long a cell | A |
A rock hewn chapel rose a cross of stone | J |
Gleam'd thro' the dark trees o'er a sparkling well | A |
And a sweet voice of rich yet mournful tone | J |
Told the Calabrian wilds that duly there | Q |
Costanza lifted her sad heart in prayer | Q |
And now 'twas prayer's own hour That voice again | R |
Thro' the dim foliage sent its heavenly strain | S |
That made the cypress quiver where it stood | T |
In day's last crimson soaring from the wood | T |
Like spiry flame But as the bright sun set | U |
Other and wilder sounds in tumult met | U |
- | |
Page | V |
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The floating song Strange sounds the trumpet's peal | G |
Made hollow by the rocks the clash of steel | G |
The rallying war cry In the mountain pass | W |
There had been combat blood was on the grass | W |
Banners had strewn the waters chiefs lay dying | X |
And the pine branches crash'd before the flying | X |
- | |
And all was chang'd within the still retreat | Y |
Costanza's home there enter'd hurrying feet | Y |
Dark looks of shame and sorrow mail clad men | R |
Stern fugitives from that wild battle glen | R |
Scaring the ringdoves from the porch roof bore | Z |
A wounded warrior in the rocky floor | Z |
Gave back deep echoes to his clanging sword | A2 |
As there they laid their leader and implor'd | A2 |
The sweet saint's prayers to heal him then for flight | B2 |
Thro' the wide forest and the mantling night | B2 |
Sped breathlessly again They pass'd but he | C2 |
The stateliest of a host alas to see | C2 |
What mother's eyes have watch'd in rosy sleep | D2 |
Till joy for very fullness turn'd to weep | D2 |
Thus chang'd a fearful thing His golden crest | E2 |
Was shiver'd and the bright scarf on his breast | E2 |
Some costly love gift rent but what of these | F2 |
There were the clustering raven locks the breeze | F2 |
As it came in thro' lime and myrtle flowers | N |
Might scarcely lift them steep'd in bloody showers | N |
So heavily upon the pallid clay | G2 |
Of the damp cheek they hung the eyes' dark ray | G2 |
Where was it and the lips they gasp'd apart | H2 |
With their light curve as from the chisel's art | H2 |
Still proudly beautiful but that white hue | D |
Was it not death's that stillness that cold dew | D |
On the scarr'd forehead No his spirit broke | I2 |
From its deep trance ere long yet but awoke | I2 |
To wander in wild dreams and there he lay | G2 |
By the fierce fever as a green reed shaken | J2 |
The haughty chief of thousands the forsaken | J2 |
Of all save one She fled not Day by day | G2 |
Such hours are woman's birthright she unknown | J |
Kept watch beside him fearless and alone | J |
Binding his wounds and oft in silence laving | I2 |
His brow with tears that mourn'd the strong man's raving | I2 |
He felt them not nor mark'd the light veil'd form | K2 |
Still hovering nigh yet sometimes when that storm | K2 |
Of frenzy sank her voice in tones as low | B |
As a young mother's by the cradle singing | I2 |
Would sooth him with sweet aves gently bringing | I2 |
Moments of slumber when the fiery glow | B |
Ebb'd from his hollow cheek | I2 |
- | |
At last faint gleams | M |
Of memory dawn'd upon the cloud of dreams | M |
And feebly lifting as a child his head | E |
And gazing round him from his leafy bed | E |
He murmur'd forth 'Where am I What soft strain | S |
Pass'd like a breeze across my burning brain | S |
Back from my youth it floated with a tone | J |
Of life's first music and a thought of one | J2 |
Where is she now and where the gauds of pride | L2 |
Whose hollow splendour lured me from her side | L2 |
All lost and this is death I cannot die | F |
Without forgiveness from that mournful eye | F |
Away the earth hath lost her Was she born | M2 |
To brook abandonment to strive with scorn | M2 |
My first my holiest love her broken heart | H2 |
Lies low and I unpardon'd I depart ' | - |
- | |
But then Costanza rais'd the shadowy veil | N2 |
From her dark locks and features brightly pale | N2 |
And stood before him with a smile oh ne'er | Q |
Did aught that smiled so much of sadness wear | Q |
And said 'Cesario look on me I live | O2 |
To say my heart hath bled and can forgive | P2 |
I loved thee with such worship such deep trust | Q2 |
As should be Heaven's alone and Heaven is just | Q2 |
I bless thee be at peace ' | - |
- | |
But o'er his frame | R2 |
Too fast the strong tide rush'd the sudden shame | R2 |
The joy th' amaze he bow'd his head it fell | A |
On the wrong'd bosom which had lov'd so well | A |
And love still perfect gave him refuge there | Q |
His last faint breath just wav'd her floating hair | Q |
Felicia Dorothea Hemans
(1)
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