Two Lovers Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD CCCC ECEC DFDF GHGH ICIC CDCD CJCJ DHDH CKCK CCCC LMLM DNDN OEO CCCC CDCD PCQC RDRD CCCC FSF CCCC TETU CDCD VWVW XCXC YZYZ CCCC CA2CA2 UB2C2B2 DD2DT

Their eyes met flashed an instant like swift swordsA
That leapt unparring to each other's heartB
Jarring convulsion through the inmost chordsA
Then fell for they had fully done their partB
-
She in the manner of her folk unveiledC
Might have been veiled for all he saw of herD
Those sudden eyes from which he reeled and quailedC
The old life dead no new life yet astirD
-
His good steed bore him onward slow and proudC
And through the open lattice still she leantC
Pale still though whirled in a black rushing cloudC
As if on her fair flowers and dreams intentC
-
Days passed and he passed timid furtive slowE
Nights came and he came motionless and muteC
A steadfast sentinel till morning glowE
Though blank her window dumb her voice and luteC
-
She loved the Cross stretched rigid arms to scareD
Her soul from the perdition of that loveF
She saw Christ's wounds bleed when she knelt in prayerD
And frown abhorrent all the saints aboveF
-
He loved the Crescent hung with sharp cold gleamG
A scimitar to cleave such love in twainH
The Prophet menaced in his waking dreamG
Livid and swoln with wrath that great brow veinH
-
Each sternly true to the immortal soulI
Crushed down the passion of the mortal heartC
Which bled away beneath the iron controlI
But inwardly they die none sees the smartC
-
Thus long months went until his time came roundC
To leave that city terrible and dearD
To go afar on soulless business boundC
Perchance for absence of a whole dead yearD
-
No word but as she knelt to pray one nightC
What was that silk thing pendant from the CrossJ
Half of a talisman of chrysoliteC
Farewell Full triumph stunned like fatal lossJ
-
A sacred jewel charm of sovereign powerD
'Gainst demons haunting soul and sense and brainH
'Gainst madness had it not until that hourD
Despite love's impious frenzy kept him saneH
-
Now let her look forth boldly day by dayC
He will not come to wound her with his eyesK
Now at the open lattice darkling stayC
Only the stars are watching from the skiesK
-
Now with clear spirit let her sing and prayC
No human presence clouds her Lord's full lightC
Now let her weep and moan and waste awayC
With broken heart a bleeding day and nightC
-
-
-
Thin as a spectre haggard taciturnL
He reached his native city there did allM
He had to do indifferent yet sternL
As one whose task must end ere evening fallM
-
Then sank and knew that Azrael was nearD
The hard dull rage of impotent remorseN
Burned into passion that consumed old fearD
He loathed his unlived life his unspent forceN
-
'Must we be sundered then beyond the graveO
By that which here has sundered us Not soE
I can be lost with her I cannot saveO
And with these Christian dogs to deep Hell go '-
-
A priest baptized the sinking renegadeC
A priest assured him of the Heaven he spurnedC
His wealth for many a mass thereafter paidC
And many a Moslem his example turnedC
-
A friend had sworn to do his last behestC
To be his swift and faithful messengerD
His own half talisman from his true breastC
Would seal the truth of all things told to herD
-
The funeral over while the stars yet shoneP
Though pale in the new dawn this friend forth spurredC
Brief rests long stages hurried fiercely onQ
Hating the errand loyal to his wordC
-
Twenty days' travel done in thrice three daysR
He reached her city found her mansion thereD
A crowd before it busy with amazeR
Cries from within it wounding the sweet airD
-
She was no more since that day's sun had setC
But wonder outran grief for ere she diedC
Infinite yearning fathomless regretC
Flooded her soul and drowned its faith and prideC
-
'Shall I be happy with the saints aboveF
While he is burning in the paynim HellS
Here I have cheated him of all my loveF
But there with him I can for ever dwell '-
-
So she renounced the Cross and threefold GodC
And died in Islam whence the bruit was greatC
Silent the friend his backward journey trodC
Silent and shrouded with the sense of FateC
-
-
Thus in the very hour supreme of deathT
These two great hearts first dared live perfect life goE
Drew inspiration with their failing breathT
Snatched victory as they sank down slain in strifeU
-
And thus Fate mocked them who when life was sweetC
Had kept apart both famished to the coreD
Let them draw near and in the death point meetC
But to diverge for ever evermoreD
-
Yet both died happy in self sacrificeV
A dolorous happiness yet true and deepW
And Gods and Fate and Hell and ParadiseV
Perchance are one to their eternal sleepW
-
Poor human hearts that yearn beyond the tombX
Wherein you all must moulder into dustC
What has the blank immitigable gloomX
Of light or fervour to reward your trustC
-
Live out your whole free life while yet on earthY
Seize the quick Present prize your one sure boonZ
Though brief each day a golden sun has birthY
Though dim the night is gemmed with stars and moonZ
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Love out your cordial love hate out your hateC
Be strong to grasp a foe to clasp a friendC
Your wants true laws are thirst and hunger sateC
Feel you have been yourselves when comes the endC
-
Let the great gods if they indeed existC
Fight out their fight themselves for they are strongA2
How can we puny mortals e'er assistC
How judge the supra mortal right and wrongA2
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But if we made these gods with all their strifeU
And not they us what frenzy equals thisB2
To starve maim poison strangle our poor HeC2
For empty shadows of death's dark abyssB2
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This man and maiden claim a brother's tearD
Martyrs of sweet love killed by bitter faithD2
Defrauded by the Gods of glad life hereD
And mocked by Doom in their heroic deathT

James Thomson



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