The Wife Of Asdrubal Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABCDDEEFFGGHHIIBC BBDGIIJJKKHHLLGBDDMM NN GGOPQQGGRRNNGGJJOOBC DDS GGMMDD| The sun sets brightly but a ruddier glow | A |
| O'er Afric's heaven the flames of Carthage throw | A |
| Her walls have sunk and pyramids of fire | B |
| In lurid splendour from her domes aspire | C |
| Swayed by the wind they wave while glares the sky | D |
| As when the desert's red simoom is nigh | D |
| The sculptured altar and the pillared hall | E |
| Shine out in dreadful brightness ere they fall | E |
| Far o'er the seas the light of ruin streams | F |
| Rock wave and isle are crimsoned by its beams | F |
| While captive thousands bound in Roman chains | G |
| Gaze in mute horror on their burning fanes | G |
| And shouts in triumph echoing far around | H |
| Swell from the victors' tents with ivy crowned | H |
| But mark from yon fair temple's loftiest height | I |
| What towering form bursts wildly on the sight | I |
| All regal in magnificent attire | B |
| And sternly beauteous in terrific ire | C |
| - | |
| She might be deemed a Pythia in the hour | B |
| Of dread communion and delirious power | B |
| A being more than earthly in whose eye | D |
| There dwells a strange and fierce ascendancy | G |
| The flames are gathering round intensely bright | I |
| Full on her features glares their meteor light | I |
| But a wild courage sits triumphant there | J |
| The stormy grandeur of a proud despair | J |
| A daring spirit in its woes elate | K |
| Mightier than death untameable by fate | K |
| The dark profusion of her locks unbound | H |
| Waves like a warrior's floating plumage round | H |
| Flushed in her cheek inspired her haughty mien | L |
| She seems the avenging goddess of the scene | L |
| Are those | G |
| her | B |
| infants that with suppliant cry | D |
| Cling round her shrinking as the flame draws nigh | D |
| Clasp with their feeble hands her gorgeous vest | M |
| And fain would rush for shelter to her breast | M |
| Is that a mother's glance where stern disdain | N |
| And passion awfully vindictive reign | N |
| - | |
| Fixed is her eye on Asdrubal who stands | G |
| Ignobly safe amidst the conquering bands | G |
| On him who left her to that burning tomb | O |
| Alone to share her children's martyrdom | P |
| Who when his country perished fled the strife | Q |
| And knelt to win the worthless boon of life | Q |
| 'Live traitor live ' she cries 'since dear to thee | G |
| E'en in thy fetters can existence be | G |
| Scorned and dishonoured live with blasted name | R |
| The Romans triumph not to grace but shame | R |
| O slave in spirit bitter be thy chain | N |
| With tenfold anguish to avenge my pain | N |
| Still may the manes of thy children rise | G |
| To chase calm slumber from thy wearied eyes | G |
| Still may their voices on the haunted air | J |
| In fearful whispers tell thee to despair | J |
| Till vain remorse thy withered heart consume | O |
| Scourged by relentless shadows of the tomb | O |
| E'en now my sons shall die and thou their sire | B |
| In bondage safe shalt yet in them expire | C |
| Think'st thou I love them not 'Twas thine to fly | D |
| 'Tis mine with these to suffer and to die | D |
| Behold their fate the arms that cannot save | S |
| Have been their cradle and shall be their grave ' | - |
| - | |
| Bright in her hand the lifted dagger gleams | G |
| Swift from her children's hearts the life blood streams | G |
| With frantic laugh she clasps them to the breast | M |
| Whose woes and passions soon shall be at rest | M |
| Lifts one appealing frenzied glance on high | D |
| Then deep 'midst rolling flames is lost to mortal eye | D |
Felicia Dorothea Hemans
(1)
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