The Corsair Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGCCHHII JJKKLLCCMMNNEEMMOACC PQ RSSTTUUVVJJWWXXYYZZJ JUUA2A2B2B2C2C2D2D2O OE2F2G2G2B2B2OO RH2H2I2I2J2J2CCKKLLK 2K2 LL2L2M2N2UUO2O2OA AP2P2Q2Q2A2A2LLX OR2R2LLM2 CCS2S2T2T2LLUUU2U2V2 V2W2 LX2X2Y2Y2OOR2R2O2O2Z 2Z2GGJ2 J2A3A3 G2G2B3C3C3UUKKQ2L

'O'er the glad waters of the dark blue seaA
Our thoughts as boundless and our soul's as freeA
Far as the breeze can bear the billows foamB
Survey our empire and behold our homeB
These are our realms no limits to their swayC
Our flag the sceptre all who meet obeyC
Ours the wild life in tumult still to rangeD
From toil to rest and joy in every changeD
Oh who can tell not thou luxurious slaveE
Whose soul would sicken o'er the heaving waveE
Not thou vain lord of wantonness and easeF
whom slumber soothes not pleasure cannot pleaseF
Oh who can tell save he whose heart hath triedG
And danced in triumph o'er the waters wideG
The exulting sense the pulse's maddening playC
That thrills the wanderer of that trackless wayC
That for itself can woo the approaching fightH
And turn what some deem danger to delightH
That seeks what cravens shun with more than zealI
And where the feebler faint can only feelI
Feel to the rising bosom's inmost coreJ
Its hope awaken and Its spirit soarJ
No dread of death if with us die our foesK
Save that it seems even duller than reposeK
Come when it will we snatch the life of lifeL
When lost what recks it but disease or strifeL
Let him who crawls enamour'd of decayC
Cling to his couch and sicken years awayC
Heave his thick breath and shake his palsied headM
Ours the fresh turf and not the feverish bedM
While gasp by gasp he falters forth his soulN
Ours with one pang one bound escapes controlN
His corse may boast its urn and narrow caveE
And they who loath'd his life may gild his graveE
Ours are the tears though few sincerely shedM
When Ocean shrouds and sepulchres our deadM
For us even banquets fond regret supplyO
In the red cup that crowns our memoryA
And the brief epitaph in danger's dayC
When those who win at length divide the preyC
And cry Remembrance saddening o'er each browP
How had the brave who fell exulted now 'Q
-
IIR
Such were the notes that from the Pirate's isleS
Around the kindling watch fire rang the whileS
Such were the sounds that thrill'd the rocks alongT
And unto ears as rugged seem'd a songT
In scatter'd groups upon the golden sandU
They game carouse converse or whet the brandU
Select the arms to each his blade assignV
And careless eye the blood that dims its shineV
Repair the boat replace the helm or oarJ
While others straggling muse along the shoreJ
For the wild bird the busy springes setW
Or spread beneath the sun the dripping netW
Gaze where some distant sail a speck suppliesX
With all the 'thirsting eve of EnterpriseX
Tell o'er the tales of many a night of toilY
And marvel where they next shall seize a spoilY
No matter where their chief's allotment thisZ
Theirs to believe no prey nor plan amissZ
But who that CHIEF his name on every shoreJ
Is famed and fear'd they ask and know no moreJ
With these he mingles not but to commandU
Few are his words but keen his eye and handU
Ne'er seasons he with mirth their jovial messA2
But they forgive his silence for successA2
Ne'er for his lip the purpling cup they fillB2
That goblet passes him untasted stillB2
And for his fare the rudest of his crewC2
Would that in turn have pass'd untasted tooC2
Earth's coarsest bread the garden's homeliest rootsD2
And scarce the summer luxury of fruitsD2
His short repast in humbleness supplyO
With all a hermit's board would scarce denyO
But while he shuns the grosser joys of senseE2
His mind seems nourish'd by that abstinenceF2
'Steer to that shore ' they sail 'Do this ' 'tis doneG2
'Now form and follow me ' the spoil is wonG2
Thus prompt his accents and his actions stillB2
And all obey and few inquire his willB2
So To such brief answer and contemptuous eyeO
Convey reproof nor further deign replyO
-
IIIR
'A sail sail ' a promised prize to HopeH2
Her nation flag how speaks the telescopeH2
No prize alas but yet a welcome sailI2
The blood red signal glitters in the galeI2
Yes she is ours a home returning barkJ2
Blow fair thou breeze she anchors ere the darkJ2
Already doubled is the cape our bayC
Receives that prow which proudly spurns the sprayC
How gloriously her gallant course she goesK
Her white wings flying never from her foesK
She walks the waters like a thing of lifeL
And seems to dare the elements to strifeL
Who would not brave the battle fire the wreckK2
To move the monarch of her peopled deckK2
-
IVL
Hoarse o'er her side the rustling cable ringsL2
The sails are furl'd and anchoring round she swingsL2
And gathering loiterers on the land discernM2
Her boat descending from the latticed stemN2
'Tis mann'd the oars keep concert to the strandU
Till grates her keel upon the shallow sandU
Hail to the welcome shout the friendly speechO2
When hand grasps hand uniting on the beachO2
The smile the question and the quick replyO
And the heart's promise of festivityA
-
VA
The tidings spread and gathering grows the crowdP2
The hum of voices and the laughter loudP2
And woman's gentler anxious tone is heardQ2
Friends' husbands' lovers' names in each dear wordQ2
'Oh are they safe we ask not of successA2
But shall we see them will their accents blessA2
From where the battle roars the billows chafeL
They doubtless boldly did but who are safeL
Here let them haste to gladden and surpriseX
And kiss the doubt from these delighted eyes '-
-
VIO
'Where is our chief for him we bear reportR2
And doubt that joy which hails our coming shortR2
Yet thus sincere 'tis cheering though so briefL
But Juan instant guide us to our chiefL
Our greeting paid we'll feast on our returnM2
And all shall hear what each may wish to learn '-
Ascending slowly by the rock hewn wayC
To where his watch tower beetles o'er the bayC
By bushy brake and wild flowers blossomingS2
And freshness breathing from each silver springS2
Whose scatter'd streams from granite basins burstT2
Leap into life and sparkling woo your thirstT2
From crag to cliff they mount Near yonder caveL
What lonely straggler looks along the waveL
In pensive posture leaning on the brandU
Not oft a resting staff to that red handU
'Tis he 'tis Conrad here as wont aloneU2
On Juan on and make our purpose knownU2
The bark he views and tell him we would greetV2
His ear with tidings he must quickly meetV2
We dare not yet approach thou know'st his moodW2
When strange or uninvited steps intrude '-
-
VIIL
Him Juan sought and told of their intentX2
He spake not but a sign express'd assentX2
These Juan calls they come to their saluteY2
He bends him slightly but his lips are muteY2
'These letters Chief are from the Greek the spyO
Who still proclaims our spoil or peril nighO
Whate'er his tidings we can well reportR2
Much that' 'Peace peace ' he cuts their prating shortR2
Wondering they turn abash'd while each to eachO2
Conjecture whispers in his muttering speechO2
They watch his glance with many a stealing lookZ2
To gather how that eye the tidings tookZ2
But this as if he guess'd with head asideG
Perchance from some emotion doubt or prideG
He read the scroll 'My tablets Juan' harkJ2
Where is Gonsalvo '-
'In the anchor'd bark'J2
'There let him stay to him this order bearA3
Back to your duty for my course prepareA3
Myself this enterprise to night will share '-
-
'To night Lord Conrad '-
'Ay at set of sunG2
The breeze will freshen when the day is doneG2
My corslet cloak one hour and we are goneB3
Sling on thy bugle see that free from rustC3
My carbine lock springs worthy of my trustC3
Be the edge sharpen'd of my boarding brandU
And give its guard more room to fit my handU
This let the armourer with speed disposeK
Last time it more fatigued my arm than foesK
Mark that the signal gun be duly firedQ2
To tell us when the hour ofL

George Gordon Byron



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