Evangeline: Part The First. Iii. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFBGHAIAJKJAEEKL MJLNBOKANMONBKPNJQOK JJEKQJPKAJJKJOJKRNML KO EJOAKEJAEOSOJJOAOOOK KAK OTJUKAOJKAOKJAVWJAAX OJOKJJKKO

BENT like a laboring oar that toils in the surf of the oceanA
Bent but not broken by age was the form of the notary publicB
Shocks of yellow hair like the silken floss of the maize hungC
Over his shoulders his forehead was high and glasses with horn bowsD
Sat astride on his nose with a look of wisdom supernalE
Father of twenty children was he and more than a hundredF
Children's children rode on his knee and heard his great watch tickB
Four long years in the times of the war had he languished a captiveG
Suffering much in an old French fort as the friend of the EnglishH
Now though warier grown without all guile or suspicionA
Ripe in wisdom was he but patient and simple and childlikeI
He was beloved by all and most of all by the childrenA
For he told them tales of the Loup garou in the forestJ
And of the goblin that came in the night to water the horsesK
And of the white L tiche the ghost of a child who unchristenedJ
Died and was doomed to haunt unseen the chambers of childrenA
And how on Christmas eve the oxen talked in the stableE
And how the fever was cured by a spider shut up in a nutshellE
And of the marvellous powers of four leaved clover and horsehoesK
With whatsoever else was writ in the lore of the villageL
Then up rose from his seat by the fireside Basil the blacksmithM
Knocked from his pipe the ashes and slowly extending his right handJ
'Father Leblanc ' he exclaimed 'thou hast heard the talk in the villageL
And perchance canst tell us some news of these ships and their errand 'N
Then with modest demeanor made answer the notary publicB
'Gossip enough have I heard in sooth yet am never the wiserO
And what their errand may be I know not better than othersK
Yet am I not of those who imagine some evil intentionA
Brings them here for we are at peace and why then molest us 'N
'God's name ' shouted the hasty and somewhat irascible blacksmithM
'Must we in all things look for the how and the why and the whereforeO
Daily injustice is done and might is the right of the strongest 'N
But without heeding his warmth continued the notary publicB
'Man is unjust but God is just and finally justiceK
Triumphs and well I remember a story that often consoled meP
When as a captive I lay in the old French fort at Port Royal 'N
This was the old man's favorite tale and he loved to repeat itJ
When his neighbors complained that any injustice was done themQ
'Once in an ancient city whose name I no longer rememberO
Raised aloft on a column a brazen statue of JusticeK
Stood in the public square upholding the scales in its left handJ
And in its right a sword as an emblem that justice presidedJ
Over the laws of the land and the hearts and homes of the peopleE
Even the birds had built their nests in the scales of the balanceK
Having no fear of the sword that flashed in the sunshine above themQ
But in the course of time the laws of the land were corruptedJ
Might took the place of right and the weak were oppressed and the mightyP
Ruled with an iron rod Then it chanced in a nobleman's palaceK
That a necklace of pearls was lost and erelong a suspicionA
Fell on an orphan girl who lived as maid in the householdJ
She after form of trial condemned to die on the scaffoldJ
Patiently met her doom at the foot of the statue of JusticeK
As to her Father in heaven her innocent spirit ascendedJ
Lo o'er the city a tempest rose and the bolts of the thunderO
Smote the statue of bronze and hurled in wrath from its left handJ
Down on the pavement below the clattering scales of the balanceK
And in the hollow thereof was found the nest of a magpieR
Into whose clay built walls the necklace of pearls was inwoven 'N
Silenced but not convinced when the story was ended the blacksmithM
Stood like a man who fain would speak but findeth no languageL
All his thoughts were congealed into lines on his face as the vaporsK
Freeze in fantastic shapes on the window panes in the winterO
-
Then Evangeline lighted the brazen lamp on the tableE
Filled till it overflowed the pewter tankard with home brewedJ
Nut brown ale that was famed for its strength in the village of Grand PrO
While from his pocket the notary drew his papers and inkhornA
Wrote with a steady hand the date and the age of the partiesK
Naming the dower of the bride in flocks of sheep and in cattleE
Orderly all things proceeded and duly and well were completedJ
And the great seal of the law was set like a sun on the marginA
Then from his leathern pouch the farmer threw on the tableE
Three times the old man's fee in solid pieces of silverO
And the notary rising and blessing the bride and the bridegroomS
Lifted aloft the tankard of ale and drank to their welfareO
Wiping the foam from his lip he solemnly bowed and departedJ
While in silence the others sat and mused by the firesideJ
Till Evangeline brought the draught board out of its cornerO
Soon was the game begun In friendly contention the old menA
Laughed at each lucky hit or unsuccessful manoeuverO
Laughed when a man was crowned or a breach was made in the king rowO
Meanwhile apart in the twilight gloom of a window's embrasureO
Sat the lovers and whispered together beholding the moon riseK
Over the pallid sea and the silvery mist of the meadowsK
Silently one by one in the infinite meadows of heavenA
Blossomed the lovely stars the forget me nots of the angelsK
-
Thus passed the evening away Anon the bell from the belfryO
Rang out the hour of nine the village curfew and straightwayT
Rose the guests and departed and silence reigned in the householdJ
Many a farewell word and sweet good night on the door stepU
Lingered long in Evangeline's heart and filled it with gladnessK
Carefully then were covered the embers that glowed on the hearth stoneA
And on the oaken stairs resounded the tread of the farmerO
Soon with a soundless step the foot of Evangeline followedJ
Up the staircase moved a luminous space in the darknessK
Lighted less by the lamp than the shining face of the maidenA
Silent she passed the hall and entered the door of her chamberO
Simple that chamber was with its curtains of white and its clothes pressK
Ample and high on whose spacious shelves were carefully foldedJ
Linen and woollen stuffs by the hand of Evangeline wovenA
This was the precious dower she would bring to her husband in marriageV
Better than flocks and herds being proofs of her skill as a housewifeW
Soon she extinguished her lamp for the mellow and radiant moonlightJ
Streamed through the windows and lighted the room till the heart of the maidenA
Swelled and obeyed its power like the tremulous tides of the oceanA
Ah she was fair exceeding fair to behold as she stood withX
Naked snow white feet on the gleaming floor of her chamberO
Little she dreamed that below among the trees of the orchardJ
Waited her lover and watched for the gleam of her lamp and her shadowO
Yet were her thoughts of him and at times a feeling of sadnessK
Passed o'er her soul as the sailing shade of clouds in the moonlightJ
Flitted across the floor and darkened the room for a momentJ
And as she gazed from the window she saw serenely the moon passK
Forth from the folds of a cloud and one star follow her footstepsK
As out of Abraham's tent young Ishmael wandered with HagarO

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



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