The Switzer's Wife Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AAAAB CD AEAEFA GHGHII AJAJKK AAAALL MAMANN OAOABB APAPQ RARAFF STSGUU CACAA VWVWAA AXAXHH AAAAAA CACAYZ AJAJAA A2B2A2B2B A2QA2QFF AAAAD A2SA2SC2C2

Nor look nor tone revealeth aughtA
Save woman's quietness of thoughtA
And yet around her is a lightA
Of inward majesty and mightA
M J JB
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Wer solch ein herz an seinen Busen dr Der kann fur herd und hof mit freuden fechtenC
Willholm TellD
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It was the time when children bound to meetA
Their father's homeward step from field or hillE
And when the herd's returning bells are sweetA
In the Swiss valleys and the lakes grow stillE
And the last note of that wild horn swells byF
Which haunts the exile's heart with melodyA
-
And lovely smil'd full many an Alpine homeG
Touch'd with the crimson of the dying hourH
Which lit its low roof by the torrent's foamG
And pierced its lattice thro' the vine hung bowerH
But one the loveliest o'er the land that roseI
Then first look'd mournful in its green reposeI
-
For Werner sat beneath the linden treeA
That sent its lulling whispers through his doorJ
Ev'n as man sits whose heart alone would beA
With some deep care and thus can find no moreJ
Th' accustom'd joy in all which Evening bringsK
Gathering a household with her quiet wingsK
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His wife stood hush'd before him sad yet mildA
In her beseeching mien he mark'd it notA
The silvery laughter of his bright hair'd childA
Rang from the greensward round the shelter'd spotA
But seem'd unheard until at last the boyL
Rais'd from his heap'd up flowers a glance of joyL
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And met his father's face but then a changeM
Pass'd swiftly o'er the brow of infant gleeA
And a quick sense of something dimly strangeM
Brought him from play to stand beside the kneeA
So often climb'd and lift his loving eyesN
That shone through clouds of sorrowful surpriseN
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Then the proud bosom of the strong man shookO
But tenderly his babe's fair mother laidA
Her hand on his and with a pleading lookO
Thro' tears half quivering o'er him bent and saidA
'What grief dear friend hath made thy heart its preyB
That thou shouldst turn thee from our love awayB
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'It is too sad to see thee thus my friendA
Mark'st thou the wonder on thy boy's fair browP
Missing the smile from thine Oh cheer thee bendA
To his soft arms unseal thy thoughts e'en nowP
Thou dost not kindly to withhold the shareQ
Of tried affection in thy secret care '-
-
He looked up into that sweet earnest faceR
But sternly mournfully not yet the bandA
Was loosen'd from his soul its inmost placeR
Not yet unveil'd by love's o'ermastering handA
'Speak low ' he cried and pointed where on highF
The white Alps glitter'd thro' the solemn skyF
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'We must speak low amidst our ancient hillsS
And their free torrents for the days are comeT
When tyranny lies couch'd by forest rillsS
And meets the shepherd in his mountain homeG
Go pour the wine of our own grapes in fearU
Keep silence by the hearth its foes are nearU
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'The envy of th' oppressor's eye hath beenC
Upon my heritage I sit to nightA
Under my household tree if not sereneC
Yet with the faces best beloved in sightA
To morrow eve may find me chain'd and theeA
How can I bear the boy's young smiles to see '-
-
The bright blood left that youthful mother's cheekV
Back on the linden stem she lean'd her formW
And her lip trembled as it strove to speakV
Like a frail harp string shaken by the stormW
'Twas but a moment and the faintness pass'dA
And the free Alpine spirit woke at lastA
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And she that ever thro' her home had mov'dA
With the meek thoughtfulness and quiet smileX
Of woman calmly loving and belov'dA
And timid in her happiness the whileX
Stood brightly forth and steadfastly that hourH
Her clear glance kindling into sudden powerH
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Ay pale she stood but with an eye of lightA
And took her fair child to her holy breastA
And lifted her soft voice that gathered mightA
As it found language 'Are we thus oppress'dA
Then must we rise upon our mountain sodA
And man must arm and woman call on GodA
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'I know what thou wouldst do And be it doneC
Thy soul is darken'd with its fears for meA
Trust me to Heaven my husband this thy sonC
The babe whom I have born thee must be freeA
And the sweet memory of our pleasant hearthY
May well give strength if aught be strong on earthZ
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'Thou hast been brooding o'er the silent dreadA
Of my desponding tears now lift once moreJ
My hunter of the hills thy stately headA
And let thine eagle glance my joy restoreJ
I can bear all but seeing thee subduedA
Take to thee back thine own undaunted moodA
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'Go forth beside the waters and alongA2
The chamois paths and thro' the forests goB2
And tell in burning words thy tale of wrongA2
To the brave hearts that midst the hamlets glowB2
God shall be with thee my belov'd AwayB
Bless but thy child and leave me I can pray '-
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He sprang up like a warrior youth awakingA2
To clarion sounds upon the ringing airQ
He caught her to his breast while proud tears breakingA2
From his dark eyes fell o'er her braided hairQ
And 'Worthy art thou ' was his joyous cryF
'That man for thee should gird himself to dieF
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'My bride my wife the mother of my childA
Now shall thy name be armour to my heartA
And this our land by chains no more defiledA
Be taught of thee to choose the better partA
I go thy spirit on my words shall dwellD
Thy gentle voice shall stir the Alps Farewell '-
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And thus they parted by the quiet lakeA2
In the clear starlight he the strength to rouseS
Of the free hills she thoughtful for his sakeA2
To rock her child beneath the whispering boughsS
Singing its blue half curtain'd eyes to sleepC2
With a low hymn amidst the stillness deepC2

Felicia Dorothea Hemans



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