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 sea | A |
Our thoughts as boundless and our soul's as free | A |
Far as the breeze can bear the billows foam | B |
Survey our empire and behold our home | B |
These are our realms no limits to their sway | C |
Our flag the sceptre all who meet obey | C |
Ours the wild life in tumult still to range | D |
From toil to rest and joy in every change | D |
Oh who can tell not thou luxurious slave | E |
Whose soul would sicken o'er the heaving wave | E |
Not thou vain lord of wantonness and ease | F |
whom slumber soothes not pleasure cannot please | F |
Oh who can tell save he whose heart hath tried | G |
And danced in triumph o'er the waters wide | G |
The exulting sense the pulse's maddening play | C |
That thrills the wanderer of that trackless way | C |
That for itself can woo the approaching fight | H |
And turn what some deem danger to delight | H |
That seeks what cravens shun with more than zeal | I |
And where the feebler faint can only feel | I |
Feel to the rising bosom's inmost core | J |
Its hope awaken and Its spirit soar | J |
No dread of death if with us die our foes | K |
Save that it seems even duller than repose | K |
Come when it will we snatch the life of life | L |
When lost what recks it but disease or strife | L |
Let him who crawls enamour'd of decay | C |
Cling to his couch and sicken years away | C |
Heave his thick breath and shake his palsied head | M |
Ours the fresh turf and not the feverish bed | M |
While gasp by gasp he falters forth his soul | N |
Ours with one pang one bound escapes control | N |
His corse may boast its urn and narrow cave | E |
And they who loath'd his life may gild his grave | E |
Ours are the tears though few sincerely shed | M |
When Ocean shrouds and sepulchres our dead | M |
For us even banquets fond regret supply | O |
In the red cup that crowns our memory | A |
And the brief epitaph in danger's day | C |
When those who win at length divide the prey | C |
And cry Remembrance saddening o'er each brow | P |
How had the brave who fell exulted now ' | Q |
- | |
II | R |
Such were the notes that from the Pirate's isle | S |
Around the kindling watch fire rang the while | S |
Such were the sounds that thrill'd the rocks along | T |
And unto ears as rugged seem'd a song | T |
In scatter'd groups upon the golden sand | U |
They game carouse converse or whet the brand | U |
Select the arms to each his blade assign | V |
And careless eye the blood that dims its shine | V |
Repair the boat replace the helm or oar | J |
While others straggling muse along the shore | J |
For the wild bird the busy springes set | W |
Or spread beneath the sun the dripping net | W |
Gaze where some distant sail a speck supplies | X |
With all the 'thirsting eve of Enterprise | X |
Tell o'er the tales of many a night of toil | Y |
And marvel where they next shall seize a spoil | Y |
No matter where their chief's allotment this | Z |
Theirs to believe no prey nor plan amiss | Z |
But who that CHIEF his name on every shore | J |
Is famed and fear'd they ask and know no more | J |
With these he mingles not but to command | U |
Few are his words but keen his eye and hand | U |
Ne'er seasons he with mirth their jovial mess | A2 |
But they forgive his silence for success | A2 |
Ne'er for his lip the purpling cup they fill | B2 |
That goblet passes him untasted still | B2 |
And for his fare the rudest of his crew | C2 |
Would that in turn have pass'd untasted too | C2 |
Earth's coarsest bread the garden's homeliest roots | D2 |
And scarce the summer luxury of fruits | D2 |
His short repast in humbleness supply | O |
With all a hermit's board would scarce deny | O |
But while he shuns the grosser joys of sense | E2 |
His mind seems nourish'd by that abstinence | F2 |
'Steer to that shore ' they sail 'Do this ' 'tis done | G2 |
'Now form and follow me ' the spoil is won | G2 |
Thus prompt his accents and his actions still | B2 |
And all obey and few inquire his will | B2 |
So To such brief answer and contemptuous eye | O |
Convey reproof nor further deign reply | O |
- | |
III | R |
'A sail sail ' a promised prize to Hope | H2 |
Her nation flag how speaks the telescope | H2 |
No prize alas but yet a welcome sail | I2 |
The blood red signal glitters in the gale | I2 |
Yes she is ours a home returning bark | J2 |
Blow fair thou breeze she anchors ere the dark | J2 |
Already doubled is the cape our bay | C |
Receives that prow which proudly spurns the spray | C |
How gloriously her gallant course she goes | K |
Her white wings flying never from her foes | K |
She walks the waters like a thing of life | L |
And seems to dare the elements to strife | L |
Who would not brave the battle fire the wreck | K2 |
To move the monarch of her peopled deck | K2 |
- | |
IV | L |
Hoarse o'er her side the rustling cable rings | L2 |
The sails are furl'd and anchoring round she swings | L2 |
And gathering loiterers on the land discern | M2 |
Her boat descending from the latticed stem | N2 |
'Tis mann'd the oars keep concert to the strand | U |
Till grates her keel upon the shallow sand | U |
Hail to the welcome shout the friendly speech | O2 |
When hand grasps hand uniting on the beach | O2 |
The smile the question and the quick reply | O |
And the heart's promise of festivity | A |
- | |
V | A |
The tidings spread and gathering grows the crowd | P2 |
The hum of voices and the laughter loud | P2 |
And woman's gentler anxious tone is heard | Q2 |
Friends' husbands' lovers' names in each dear word | Q2 |
'Oh are they safe we ask not of success | A2 |
But shall we see them will their accents bless | A2 |
From where the battle roars the billows chafe | L |
They doubtless boldly did but who are safe | L |
Here let them haste to gladden and surprise | X |
And kiss the doubt from these delighted eyes ' | - |
- | |
VI | O |
'Where is our chief for him we bear report | R2 |
And doubt that joy which hails our coming short | R2 |
Yet thus sincere 'tis cheering though so brief | L |
But Juan instant guide us to our chief | L |
Our greeting paid we'll feast on our return | M2 |
And all shall hear what each may wish to learn ' | - |
Ascending slowly by the rock hewn way | C |
To where his watch tower beetles o'er the bay | C |
By bushy brake and wild flowers blossoming | S2 |
And freshness breathing from each silver spring | S2 |
Whose scatter'd streams from granite basins burst | T2 |
Leap into life and sparkling woo your thirst | T2 |
From crag to cliff they mount Near yonder cave | L |
What lonely straggler looks along the wave | L |
In pensive posture leaning on the brand | U |
Not oft a resting staff to that red hand | U |
'Tis he 'tis Conrad here as wont alone | U2 |
On Juan on and make our purpose known | U2 |
The bark he views and tell him we would greet | V2 |
His ear with tidings he must quickly meet | V2 |
We dare not yet approach thou know'st his mood | W2 |
When strange or uninvited steps intrude ' | - |
- | |
VII | L |
Him Juan sought and told of their intent | X2 |
He spake not but a sign express'd assent | X2 |
These Juan calls they come to their salute | Y2 |
He bends him slightly but his lips are mute | Y2 |
'These letters Chief are from the Greek the spy | O |
Who still proclaims our spoil or peril nigh | O |
Whate'er his tidings we can well report | R2 |
Much that' 'Peace peace ' he cuts their prating short | R2 |
Wondering they turn abash'd while each to each | O2 |
Conjecture whispers in his muttering speech | O2 |
They watch his glance with many a stealing look | Z2 |
To gather how that eye the tidings took | Z2 |
But this as if he guess'd with head aside | G |
Perchance from some emotion doubt or pride | G |
He read the scroll 'My tablets Juan' hark | J2 |
Where is Gonsalvo ' | - |
'In the anchor'd bark' | J2 |
'There let him stay to him this order bear | A3 |
Back to your duty for my course prepare | A3 |
Myself this enterprise to night will share ' | - |
- | |
'To night Lord Conrad ' | - |
'Ay at set of sun | G2 |
The breeze will freshen when the day is done | G2 |
My corslet cloak one hour and we are gone | B3 |
Sling on thy bugle see that free from rust | C3 |
My carbine lock springs worthy of my trust | C3 |
Be the edge sharpen'd of my boarding brand | U |
And give its guard more room to fit my hand | U |
This let the armourer with speed dispose | K |
Last time it more fatigued my arm than foes | K |
Mark that the signal gun be duly fired | Q2 |
To tell us when the hour of | L |
George Gordon Byron
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