Love's Ordeal Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AB CDCDCDEF GFGFGFHH IJDJIJKK LMLNLMOO KPKPKPQQ RSTSRSUU DVDVDVWW DDDDDDXX YZYZYZA2A2 IB2IB2IB2QQ C2WC2WC2WD2D2 IE2IE2IE2F2F2 G2VH2VG2VWW UI2UI2UI2J2J2 QK2QK2QK2L2L2 HE2HE2HE2CC PDPDPDDD VMVVVVPP PVPVPVVV VM2VM2VM2VV DDDDDDN2N2 PCPCPCO2P2 P2 Q2VQ2V PCPC PPPP V VVVVVVVV R2VR2VR2VDD S2VS2VS2VS2S2 VVVVVVS2S2 VT2VT2VU2VV PVPVPVL2L2 VPVPVPVV VVVVVVCC CVCVCVDD PCPCPCVV V2L2V2L2V2L2VV W2S2W2S2W2S2VV X2Y2X2Y2X2Y2DD VVVVVVCC

A recollection and attempted completion of a prose fragment	A
read in boyhood	B
	-
	-
Hear'st thou that sound upon the window pane	C
Said the youth softly as outstretched he lay	D
Where for an hour outstretched he had lain	C
Softly yet with some token of dismay	D
Answered the maiden It is but the rain	C
That has been gathering in the west all day	D
Why shouldst thou hearken so Thine eyelids close	E
And let me gather peace from thy repose	F
	-
Hear'st thou that moan creeping along the ground	G
Said the youth and his veiling eyelids rose	F
From deeps of lightning haunted dark profound	G
Ruffled with herald blasts of coming woes	F
I hear it said the maiden 'tis the sound	G
Of a great wind that here not seldom blows	F
It swings the huge arms of the dreary pine	H
But thou art safe my darling clasped in mine	H
	-
Hear'st thou the baying of my hounds said he	I
Draw back the lattice bar and let them in	J
From a rent cloud the moonlight ghostily	D
Slid clearer to the floor as gauntly thin	J
She opening they leaped through with bound so free	I
Then shook the rain drops from their shaggy skin	J
The maiden closed the shower bespattered glass	K
Whose spotted shadow through the room did pass	K
	-
The youth half raised was leaning on his hand	L
But when again beside him sat the maid	M
His eyes for one slow minute having scanned	L
Her moonlit face he laid him down and said	N
Monotonous like solemn read command	L
For Love is of the earth earthy and is laid	M
Lifeless at length back in the mother tomb	O
Strange moanings from the pine entered the room	O
	-
And then two shadows like the shadow of glass	K
Over the moonbeams on the cottage floor	P
As wind almost as thin and shapeless pass	K
A sound of rain drops came about the door	P
And a soft sighing as of plumy grass	K
A look of sorrowing doubt the youth's face wore	P
The two great hounds half rose with aspect grim	Q
They eyed his countenance by the taper dim	Q
	-
Shadow nor moaning sound the maiden noted	R
But on his face dwelt her reproachful look	S
She doubted whether he the saying had quoted	T
Out of some evil earth begotten book	S
Or up from his deep heart like bubbles had floated	R
Words which no maiden ever yet could brook	S
But his eyes held the question Yea or No	U
Therefore the maiden answered Nay not so	U
	-
Love is of heaven eternal Half a smile	D
Just twinned his lips shy like all human best	V
A hopeful thought bloomed out and lived a while	D
He looked one moment like a dead man blest	V
His soul a bark that in a sunny isle	D
At length had found the haven of its rest	V
But he could not remain must forward fare	W
He spoke and said with words abrupt and bare	W
	-
Maiden I have loved other maidens Pale	D
Her red lips grew I loved them yes but they	D
Successively in trial's hour did fail	D
For after sunset clouds again are gray	D
A sudden light shone through the fringy veil	D
That drooping hid her eyes and then there lay	D
A stillness on her face waiting and then	X
The little clock rung out the hour of ten	X
	-
Moaning once more the great pine branches bow	Y
To a soft plaining wind they would not stem	Z
Brooding upon her face the youth said Thou	Y
Art not more beautiful than some of them	Z
But a fair courage crowns thy peaceful brow	Y
Nor glow thine eyes but shine serene like gem	Z
That lamps from radiant store upon the dark	A2
The light it gathered where its song the lark	A2
	-
The horse that broke this day from grasp of three	I
Thou sawest then the hand thou holdest hold	B2
Ere two fleet hours are gone that hand will be	I
Dry big veined wrinkled withered up and old	B2
No woman yet hath shared my doom with me	I
With calm fixed eyes she heard till he had told	B2
The stag hounds rose a moment gazed at him	Q
Then laid them down with aspect yet more grim	Q
	-
Spake on the youth nor altered look or tone	C2
'Tis thy turn maiden to say no or dare	W
Was it the maiden's that importunate moan	C2
At midnight when the moon sets wilt thou share	W
The terror with me or must I go alone	C2
To meet an agony that will not spare	W
She answered not but rose to take her cloak	D2
He staid her with his hand and further spoke	D2
	-
Not yet he said yet there is respite see	I
Time's finger points not yet to the dead hour	E2
Enough is left even now for telling thee	I
The far beginnings whence the fearful power	E2
Of the great dark came shadowing down on me	I
Red roses crowding clothe my love's dear bower	E2
Nightshade and hemlock darnel toadstools white	F2
Compass the place where I must lie to night	F2
	-
Around his neck the maiden put her arm	G2
And knelt beside him leaning on his breast	V
As o'er his love to keep it strong and warm	H2
Brooding like bird outspread upon her nest	V
And well the faith of her dear eyes might charm	G2
All doubt away from love's primeval rest	V
He hid his face upon her heart and there	W
Spake on with voice like wind from lonely lair	W
	-
A drearier moaning through the pine did go	U
As if a human voice complained and cried	I2
For one long minute then the sound grew low	U
Sank to a sigh and sighing sank and died	I2
Together at the silence two voices mow	U
His and the clock's which loud grown did divide	I2
The hours into live moments sparks of time	J2
Scorching the soul that trembles for the chime	J2
	-
He spoke of sins ancestral born in him	Q
Impulses of resistance fierce and wild	K2
Of failure weak and strength reviving dim	Q
Self hatred dreariness no love beguiled	K2
Of storm and blasting light and darkness grim	Q
Of torrent paths and tombs with mountains piled	K2
Of gulfs in the unsunned bosom of the earth	L2
Of dying ever into dawning birth	L2
	-
But when I find a heart whose blood is wine	H
Whose faith lights up the cold brain's passionless hour	E2
Whose love like unborn rose bud will not pine	H
But waits the sun and the baptizing shower	E2
Till then lies hid and gathers odours fine	H
To greet the human summer when its flower	E2
Shall blossom in the heart and soul and brain	C
And love and passion be one holy twain	C
	-
Then shall I rest rest like the seven of yore	P
Slumber divine will steep my outworn soul	D
And every stain dissolve to the very core	P
She too will slumber having found her goal	D
Time's ocean o'er us will in silence frore	P
Aeonian tides of change filled seasons roll	D
And our long dark appointed period fill	D
Then shall we wake together loving still	D
	-
Her face on his her mouth to his mouth pressed	V
Was all the answer of the trusting maid	M
Close in his arms he held her to his breast	V
For one brief moment would have yet assayed	V
Some deeper word her heart to strengthen lest	V
It should though faithful be too much afraid	V
But the clock gave the warning to the hour	P
And on the thatch fell sounds not of a shower	P
	-
One long kiss and the maiden rose A fear	P
Lay thin as a glassy shadow on her heart	V
She trembled as some unknown thing were near	P
But smiled next moment for they should not part	V
The youth arose With solemn joyous cheer	P
He helped the maid whose trembling hands did thwart	V
Her haste to wrap her in her mantle's fold	V
Then out they passed into the midnight cold	V
	-
The moon was sinking in the dim green west	V
Curled upward half way to the horizon's brink	M2
A leaf of glory falling to its rest	V
The maiden's hand still trembling sought to link	M2
Her arm to his with love's instinctive quest	V
But his enfolded her hers did not sink	M2
But thus set free it stole his body round	V
And so they walked in freedom's fetters bound	V
	-
Pressed to his side she felt like full toned bell	D
A mighty heart heave large in measured play	D
But as the floating moon aye lower fell	D
Its bounding force did by slow loss decay	D
It throbbed now like a bird now like far knell	D
Pulsed low and faint And now with sick dismay	D
She felt the arm relax that round her clung	N2
And from her circling arm he forward hung	N2
	-
His footsteps feeble short his paces grow	P
Her strength and courage mount and swell amain	C
He lifted up his head the moon lay low	P
Nigh the world's edge His lips with some keen pain	C
Quivered but with a smile his eyes turned slow	P
Seeking in hers the balsam for his bane	C
And finding it love over death supreme	O2
Like two sad souls they walked met in one dream A	P2
	-
Note A	P2
	-
In a lovely garden walking	Q2
Two lovers went hand in hand	V
Two wan worn figures talking	Q2
They sat in the flowery land	V
	-
On the cheek they kissed one another	P
On the mouth with sweet refrain	C
Fast held they each the other	P
And were young and well again	C
	-
Two little bells rang shrilly	P
The dream went with the hour	P
She lay in the cloister stilly	P
He far in the dungeon tower	P
	-
From Uhland	V
	-
Hanging his head behind each came a hound	V
Padding with gentle paws upon the road	V
Straight silent pines rose here and there around	V
A dull stream on the left side hardly flowed	V
A black snake through the sluggish waters wound	V
Hark the night raven see the crawling toad	V
She thinks how dark will be the moonless night	V
How feeblest ray is yet supernal light	V
	-
The moon's last gleam fell on dim glazed eyes	R2
A body shrunken from its garments' fold	V
An aged man whose bent knees could not rise	R2
He tottered in the maiden's tightening hold	V
She shivered but too slight was the disguise	R2
To hide from love what never yet was old	V
She held him fast with open eyes did pray	D
Walked through the fear and kept the onward way	D
	-
Toward a gloomy thicket of tall firs	S2
Dragging his inch long steps he turned aside	V
There Silence sleeps not one green needle stirs	S2
They enter it A breeze begins to chide	V
Among the cones It swells until it whirs	S2
Vibrating so each sharp leaf that it sighed	V
The grove became a harp of mighty chords	S2
Wing smote by unseen creatures wild for words	S2
	-
But when he turned again toward the cleft	V
Of a great rock as instantly it ceased	V
And the tall pines stood sudden as if reft	V
Of a strong passion or from pain released	V
Again they wove their straight dark motionless weft	V
Across the moonset bars and west and east	V
Cloud giants rose and marched up cloudy stairs	S2
And like sad thoughts the bats came unawares	S2
	-
'Twas a drear chamber for thy bridal night	V
O poor pale saviour bride An earthen lamp	T2
With shaking hands he kindled whose faint light	V
Mooned out a tiny halo on the damp	T2
That filled the cavern to its unseen height	V
Dim glimmering like death candle in a swamp	U2
Watching the entrance each side lies a hound	V
With liquid light his red eyes gleaming round	V
	-
A heap rose grave like from the rocky floor	P
Of moss and leaves by many a sunny wind	V
Long tossed and dried with rich furs covered o'er	P
Expectant Up a jealous glory shined	V
In her possessing heart he should find more	P
In her than in those faithless With sweet mind	V
She praying gently did herself unclothe	L2
And lay down by him trusting and not loath	L2
	-
Once more a wind came flapping overhead	V
The hounds pricked up their ears their eyes flashed fire	P
The trembling maiden heard a sudden tread	V
Dull yet plain dinted on the windy gyre	P
As if long wet feet o'er smooth pavement sped	V
Come fiercely up as driven by longing dire	P
To enter followed sounds of hurried rout	V
With bristling hair the hounds stood looking out	V
	-
Then came half querulous a whisper old	V
Feeble and hollow as if shut in a chest	V
Take my face on your bosom I am cold	V
She bared her holy bosom's truth white nest	V
And forth her two hands instant went love bold	V
And took the face and close against her pressed	V
Ah the dead chill Was that the feet again	C
But her great heart kept beating for the twain	C
	-
She heard the wind fall heard the following rain	C
Swelling the silent waters till their sound	V
Went wallowing through the night along the plain	C
The lamp went out by the slow darkness drowned	V
Must the fair dawn a thousand years refrain	C
Like centuries the feeble hours went round	V
Eternal night entombed her with decay	D
To her live soul she clasped the breathless clay	D
	-
The world stood still Her life sank down so low	P
That but for wretchedness no life she knew	C
A charnel wind moaned out a moaning No	P
From the devouring heart of earth it blew	C
Fair memories lost all their sunny glow	P
Out of the dark the forms of old friends grew	C
But so transparent blanched with dole and smart	V
She saw the pale worm lying in each heart	V
	-
And worst of all Oh death of keep fled life	V2
A voice within her woke and cried In sooth	L2
Vain is all sorrow hope and care and strife	V2
Love and its beauty its tenderness and truth	L2
Are shadows bred in hearts too fancy rife	V2
Which melt and pass with sure decaying youth	L2
Regard them and they quiver waver blot	V
Gaze at them fixedly and they are not	V
	-
And all the answer the poor child could make	W2
Was in the tightened clasp of arms and hands	S2
Hopeless she lay like one Death would not take	W2
But still kept driving from his empty lands	S2
Yet hopeless held she out for his dear sake	W2
The darksome horror grew like drifting sands	S2
Till nought was precious neither God nor light	V
And yet she braved the false denying night	V
	-
So dead was hope that when a glimmer weak	X2
Stole through a fissure somewhere in the cave	Y2
Thinning the clotted darkness on his cheek	X2
She thought her own tired eyes the glimmer gave	Y2
He moved his head she saw his eyes love meek	X2
And knew that Death was dead and filled the Grave	Y2
Old age convicted lie had fled away	D
Youth Youth eternal in her bosom lay	D
	-
With a low cry closer to him she crept	V
And on his bosom hid a face that glowed	V
It was his turn to comfort he had slept	V
Oh earth and sky oh ever patient God	V
She had not yielded but the truth had kept	V
New love new bliss in weeping overflowed	V
I can no farther tell the tale begun	C
They are asleep and waiting for the sun	C

George Macdonald

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