Costanza Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABC DDEEFFBBGGHIJJKKLLMM NNEEOOPAJAJQQRSTTUU V GGWWXX YYRRZZA2A2B2B2C2C2D2 D2E2E2F2F2NNG2G2H2H2 DDI2I2G2J2J2G2JJI2I2 K2K2BI2I2BI2 MMEESSJJ2L2L2FFM2M2H 2 N2N2QQO2P2Q2Q2 R2R2AAQQ

She knelt in prayer A stream of sunset fellA
Thro' the stain'd window of her lonely cellA
And with its rich deep melancholy glowB
Flushing her cheek and pale Madonna browC
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While o'er her long hair's flowing jet it threwD
Bright waves of gold the autumn forest's hueD
Seem'd all a vision's mist of glory spreadE
By painting's touch around some holy headE
Virgin's or fairest martyr's In her eyeF
Which glanced as dark clear water to the skyF
What solemn fervour lived And yet what woB
Lay like some buried thing still seen belowB
The glassy tide Oh he that could revealG
What life had taught that chasten'd heart to feelG
Might speak indeed of woman's blighted yearsH
And wasted love and vainly bitter tearsI
But she had told her griefs to heaven aloneJ
And of the gentle saint no more was knownJ
Than that she fled the world's cold breath and madeK
A temple of the pine and chestnut shadeK
Filling its depths with soul whene'er her hymnL
Rose thro' each murmur of the green and dimL
And ancient solitude where hidden streamsM
Went moaning thro' the grass like sounds in dreamsM
Music for weary hearts Midst leaves and flowersN
She dwelt and knew all secrets of their powersN
All nature's balms wherewith her gliding treadE
To the sick peasant on his lowly bedE
Came and brought hope while scarce of mortal birthO
He deem'd the pale fair form that held on earthO
Communion but with griefP
Ere long a cellA
A rock hewn chapel rose a cross of stoneJ
Gleam'd thro' the dark trees o'er a sparkling wellA
And a sweet voice of rich yet mournful toneJ
Told the Calabrian wilds that duly thereQ
Costanza lifted her sad heart in prayerQ
And now 'twas prayer's own hour That voice againR
Thro' the dim foliage sent its heavenly strainS
That made the cypress quiver where it stoodT
In day's last crimson soaring from the woodT
Like spiry flame But as the bright sun setU
Other and wilder sounds in tumult metU
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PageV
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The floating song Strange sounds the trumpet's pealG
Made hollow by the rocks the clash of steelG
The rallying war cry In the mountain passW
There had been combat blood was on the grassW
Banners had strewn the waters chiefs lay dyingX
And the pine branches crash'd before the flyingX
-
And all was chang'd within the still retreatY
Costanza's home there enter'd hurrying feetY
Dark looks of shame and sorrow mail clad menR
Stern fugitives from that wild battle glenR
Scaring the ringdoves from the porch roof boreZ
A wounded warrior in the rocky floorZ
Gave back deep echoes to his clanging swordA2
As there they laid their leader and implor'dA2
The sweet saint's prayers to heal him then for flightB2
Thro' the wide forest and the mantling nightB2
Sped breathlessly again They pass'd but heC2
The stateliest of a host alas to seeC2
What mother's eyes have watch'd in rosy sleepD2
Till joy for very fullness turn'd to weepD2
Thus chang'd a fearful thing His golden crestE2
Was shiver'd and the bright scarf on his breastE2
Some costly love gift rent but what of theseF2
There were the clustering raven locks the breezeF2
As it came in thro' lime and myrtle flowersN
Might scarcely lift them steep'd in bloody showersN
So heavily upon the pallid clayG2
Of the damp cheek they hung the eyes' dark rayG2
Where was it and the lips they gasp'd apartH2
With their light curve as from the chisel's artH2
Still proudly beautiful but that white hueD
Was it not death's that stillness that cold dewD
On the scarr'd forehead No his spirit brokeI2
From its deep trance ere long yet but awokeI2
To wander in wild dreams and there he layG2
By the fierce fever as a green reed shakenJ2
The haughty chief of thousands the forsakenJ2
Of all save one She fled not Day by dayG2
Such hours are woman's birthright she unknownJ
Kept watch beside him fearless and aloneJ
Binding his wounds and oft in silence lavingI2
His brow with tears that mourn'd the strong man's ravingI2
He felt them not nor mark'd the light veil'd formK2
Still hovering nigh yet sometimes when that stormK2
Of frenzy sank her voice in tones as lowB
As a young mother's by the cradle singingI2
Would sooth him with sweet aves gently bringingI2
Moments of slumber when the fiery glowB
Ebb'd from his hollow cheekI2
-
At last faint gleamsM
Of memory dawn'd upon the cloud of dreamsM
And feebly lifting as a child his headE
And gazing round him from his leafy bedE
He murmur'd forth 'Where am I What soft strainS
Pass'd like a breeze across my burning brainS
Back from my youth it floated with a toneJ
Of life's first music and a thought of oneJ2
Where is she now and where the gauds of prideL2
Whose hollow splendour lured me from her sideL2
All lost and this is death I cannot dieF
Without forgiveness from that mournful eyeF
Away the earth hath lost her Was she bornM2
To brook abandonment to strive with scornM2
My first my holiest love her broken heartH2
Lies low and I unpardon'd I depart '-
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But then Costanza rais'd the shadowy veilN2
From her dark locks and features brightly paleN2
And stood before him with a smile oh ne'erQ
Did aught that smiled so much of sadness wearQ
And said 'Cesario look on me I liveO2
To say my heart hath bled and can forgiveP2
I loved thee with such worship such deep trustQ2
As should be Heaven's alone and Heaven is justQ2
I bless thee be at peace '-
-
But o'er his frameR2
Too fast the strong tide rush'd the sudden shameR2
The joy th' amaze he bow'd his head it fellA
On the wrong'd bosom which had lov'd so wellA
And love still perfect gave him refuge thereQ
His last faint breath just wav'd her floating hairQ

Felicia Dorothea Hemans



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