Saint Oluf (from The Old Danish) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCB DEFE GHIH JKLK MNON PQRQ JESE TPUP VWXW JBYB BQZQ A2B2C2B2 B2D2E2D2 BF2EF2 G2H2I2H2 IG2J2G2 BK2L2K2 M2F2G2F2 N2QRQ BA2O2A2

St Oluf was a mighty kingA
Who rul'd the Northern landB
The holy Christian faith he preach'dC
And taught it sword in handB
-
St Oluf built a lofty shipD
With sails of silk so fairE
To Hornelummer I must goF
And see what's passing thereE
-
O do not go the seamen saidG
To yonder fatal groundH
Where savage Jutts and wicked elvesI
And demon sprites aboundH
-
St Oluf climb'd the vessel's sideJ
His courage nought could tameK
Heave up heave up the anchor straightL
Let's go in Jesu's nameK
-
The cross shall be my faulchion nowM
The book of God my shieldN
And arm'd with them I hope and trustO
To make the demons yieldN
-
And swift as eagle cleaves the skyP
The gallant vessel flewQ
Direct for Hornelummer's rockR
Through ocean's wavy blueQ
-
'T was early in the morning tideJ
When she cast anchor thereE
And lo the Jutt stood on the cliffS
To breathe the morning airE
-
His eyes were like the burning bealT
His mouth was all awryP
The truth I tell and say he stoodU
Full twenty cubits highP
-
His beard was like a horse's maneV
And down his bosom roll'dW
The claws that fenc'd his finger endsX
Were frightful to beholdW
-
I never yet have seen he criedJ
A ship come near my strandB
That here to shore I could not dragY
By putting out my handB
-
The good St Oluf smil'd thereatB
And thus address'd his crewQ
Now hold your tongues and well observeZ
What I'm about to doQ
-
The giant stretch'd his mighty armA2
The ship was nigh his ownB2
But when St Oluf rais'd the crossC2
He sank knee deep in stoneB2
-
Here am I sunk knee deep in stoneB2
My legs I cannot moveD2
But since my back and fists are freeE2
My might thou yet shalt proveD2
-
Be still be still thou noisy guestB
Be still for evermoreF2
Become a rock and beetle thereE
Above the billows hoarF2
-
Up started then from out the hillG2
The demon's hoary wifeH2
She curs'd the king a thousand timesI2
And brandish'd high her knifeH2
-
Sore wonder'd then the little elvesI
Who sat within the hillG2
To see their mother all at onceJ2
Stand likewise stiff and stillG2
-
'T is done they cried by yonder wightB
Who rides upon the wavesK2
Let's wade out to him through the surfL2
And beat him with our stavesK2
-
At Hornelummer happen'd thenM2
What happen'd ne'er beforeF2
The elfins wish'd to leave the hillG2
And could not find a doorF2
-
They ran their heads against the wallN2
And tried to break it throughQ
They could not break the solid rockR
But broke their necks in lieuQ
-
Now thanks to God and Jesus ChristB
And good St Oluf's armA2
To Hornelummer we can sailO2
Without mishap or harmA2

George Borrow



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