The Princess And The Page Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDD EFEFG HIHIJ KLKLMM NONOP HQRQSS TFTFUU VWX YY TUT ZZ KA2KA2B2B2 C2NC2OO D2E2D2E2N TD2TF2 G2MG2MH2 NWNWI2I2| There is a legend you have read it | A |
| Of a fair page whom evil spells | B |
| Held in deep sleep and men of credit | C |
| Tried all in vain the story tells | B |
| Week after week by night and noon | D |
| To wake him from his sombre swoon | D |
| - | |
| Till one more knowing than the others | E |
| Took counsel of the stars and said | F |
| 'We may not rouse this youth my brothers | E |
| But if the queen will bow her head | F |
| And kiss him on the lips his soul | G |
| Straight shall escape the fiend's control ' | - |
| - | |
| 'Then he must perish ' in loud chorus | H |
| The learned men lamenting cried | I |
| 'Better to let him die before us | H |
| Than see our queen abase her pride | I |
| And shame her fame from north to south | J |
| Kissing a page upon the mouth ' | - |
| - | |
| And so in sorrow they departed | K |
| And through the travelled highways passed | L |
| But the strange news their story started | K |
| Filled all the land and reached at last | L |
| The crowded hall where sate alone | M |
| The fair young monarch on her throne | M |
| - | |
| And she being royal rose in beauty | N |
| Like dawn over a leafy hill | O |
| 'Would you then teach your queen her duty | N |
| Now lead me forth to do God's will | O |
| Know were this youth my meanest slave | P |
| He should not die whom I could save ' | - |
| - | |
| So forth they led her through the palace | H |
| Beyond the park and past the gate | Q |
| Silent as when a sacred chalice | R |
| Uplifts the rich wine consecrate | Q |
| In royal pomp of robe and crown | S |
| Through field and wood they led her down | S |
| - | |
| There in a mossy glade lay sleeping | T |
| A youth so beautiful 'tis said | F |
| That the still trees were softly keeping | T |
| A solemn vigil round his bed | F |
| And the birds sang sweet lullabies | U |
| Fearing lest he should wake and rise | U |
| - | |
| Then silken vestured lords and ladies | V |
| Circled him like a garland there | W |
| Thinking 'Thrice blest our royal maid is | X |
| To kiss to life a thing so fair ' | - |
| And many a damsel envied her | Y |
| Feeling the aching pulses stir | Y |
| - | |
| Simply divinely like one praying | T |
| The crowned queen passed their shadowed eyes | U |
| And knelt beside the youth and saying | T |
| 'Now in God's name I bid thee rise ' | - |
| She bowed and kissed the parted lips | Z |
| Like a white cloud that moonward dips | Z |
| - | |
| And as she rose the pale lids lifted | K |
| Over his dark eyes veiled and drowned | A2 |
| That slowly back to being drifted | K |
| And in her gaze their refuge found | A2 |
| Then slowly bold with rapture sweet | B2 |
| He turned and sank before her feet | B2 |
| - | |
| 'Give me thy love I love thee only ' | - |
| The bold words fluttered like a song | C2 |
| 'Thy love ' and from her station lonely | N |
| The young queen heard and took no wrong | C2 |
| But lifted one white hand to still | O |
| Murmurs that dared rebuke her will | O |
| - | |
| 'Blest is thy love so freely given | D2 |
| As all things freely given are blest | E2 |
| Yea not in vain thy soul hath striven | D2 |
| Even though I grant not thy behest | E2 |
| Over the hills across the sea | N |
| The prince comes who my lord shall be ' | - |
| - | |
| 'Over the hills across the ocean ' | - |
| The bowed youth echoed murmuring | T |
| Then rose reeling with dark emotion | D2 |
| And striving to his dream to cling | T |
| 'Nay if thou love me not ah why | F2 |
| Didst thou not leave me here to die ' | - |
| - | |
| 'Now by my crown thou art not noble | G2 |
| But basely born ' the queen made moan | M |
| 'Do penance for thy words ignoble | G2 |
| Life is not given for love alone | M |
| Oh purge thee in Christ's altar flame | H2 |
| And go to battle in His name ' | - |
| - | |
| So saying from the forest hoary | N |
| She passed with all who marvelled there | W |
| Nor once gazed back so runs the story | N |
| To see him on his knees in prayer | W |
| But all this came to pass they say | I2 |
| Long long ago and far away | I2 |
Harriet Monroe
(1)
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