Rosamund Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDEFGHIJKJJDLMDDJDN OPQ RSD TD UVDDW HXDYZ WA2B2C2YD2E2F2DG2H2D I2CJ2K2IDG2 BL2G2M2N2DVDG2FO2 DX P2DQ2G2R2K2S2T2S2U2S 2XS2 XS2XDBS2DS2YV2S2W W2S2X2DS2BS2S2 S2S2S2S2DY2Z2DS2 S2A3S2S2 B3DYS2DDS2 DC3S2S2DDS2O2DG2S2DD O2D3S2DF L2G2ZE3F3ZDG3S2DS2X2 H3 DI3S2 S2S2SJ3K3S2S2S2 HS2O2DS2G2S2S2S2DP2S 2 S2DRH3S2DW DGS2DL3L2 M3DDS2 SS2W2J2H3 S2S2S2S2 S2DG2DS2S2N3S2L3DS2L 2G2S2S2G2G2DS2O3XS2S 2A3S2HDP3S2SS2 Q3XHD S2DDD DS2S2DS2S2M3R3S2S2S3 S2S2G2DT3DDDG2H3H3G2 H3DH3 DDH3G2H3S2S2S2H3S2U3 DS2S2L3 S2WDS2V3S2T3DRDD W3S2H3DS2 G2RJ3G2WG2X3S2ZS2S2D G2Y3DH3G2D S2DS2Z3 H3T3A4DS2B4 O2C4H3U2DZGO2D4 O2S2H3P3S2W3P3ZH3O2S 2DDDS2S2DG2 H3DS2 S2DS2DDS2T3D H3E4G2S2O2S2S2S2RF4G 2D GS2DDG2S2S2G2J3DDS2S 2 G4DH3S2S2S2S2O2S2D P3O2G2DDH4M3W U2S2S2DZ T3Q3S2S2 HH3GDDS2DS2S3I4G2H3D S3S2RS2DJ4DH3D3D K4S2S2B3G2H3ZWDS2H3 DZDG2 S2DF4DS2G2S2DH3DDS2H 3G2S2WS2DG2WH3G2DS2 J4S2L4G2G2L2S2RL2S2S 2WDP3P3H3 TDS2S2H3 RS2L3P3DG2H3DWSDS2 DTS2DG2 S2M4DS2M4S2PG2J3WD HS2C4H3S2S2S2H3N4O2U 3H4S2DC4S2H3S2H3S2H3 S2DS2H3G2O4P4DZDQ4H3 HS2H3 S2Q4S2S2H3S2DTTH3W H3H3DS2DG2S2P4S2HW3H S2T2S2DS2S2HJ3SD S2G2S2DGS2HR S2ZG2S2 H3G2G2S2 WS2DS2H3DO4G S2G2DP4 S2RH3O2P4WRDR4S2GS2 W P4WO2P4R S2DG2HDS2P4P4HDS2DS2 S2 P3H3S2GG2HDWS2D S2S2H3S2S2H3H3S2RH3H 3RDDH DDS2WDH3G2 S2S2D TSGG2DS2HS2H3DDWS2S2 HDDG2S2S2S2S2DP4P4W DH3S2S2RO4DS2S2S2S4 S2S2 S2DDWS2DP4S2H3WH3DS2 S2HS2DH3DS2S2S2DDO4R O4HHHDG2 S2WDH3DHDS2P4P4S2D S2S2RDRS2S2 DTS2G2DP3D DDS2H3S2DS2G2G2S2S2P 4HS2H3S2S2DS2O4P4S2S 2 DHHS2S2S2S2H3DS2H3H3 P3S2DDS2G2RDS2S2DP4D DS2R S2H3S2H3DDRS2H3S2H3D S2HS2DDHDS2G2S2S2G2 S2S2His blew His winds and they were scattered | A |
- | |
'One soweth and another reapeth ' | - |
Ay | B |
Too true too true One soweth unaware | C |
Cometh a reaper stealthily while he dreams | D |
Bindeth the golden sheaf and in his bosom | E |
As 't were between the dewfall and the dawn | F |
Bears it away Who other was to blame | G |
Is it I Is it I No verily not I | H |
'T was a good action and I smart therefore | I |
Oblivion of a righteous enmity | J |
Wrought me this wrong I pay with my self ruth | K |
That I had ruth toward mine enemy | J |
It needed not to slay mine enemy | J |
Only to let him lie and succourless | D |
Drift to the foot o' the Everlasting Throne | L |
Being mine enemy he had not accused | M |
One of my nation there of unkind deeds | D |
Or ought the way of war forbids | D |
Let be | J |
I will not think upon it Yet she was | D |
O she was dear my dutiful dear child | N |
One soweth Nay but I will tell this out | O |
The first fyte was the best I call it such | P |
For now as some old song men think on it | Q |
- | |
I dwell where England narrows running north | R |
And while our hay was cut came rumours up | S |
Humming and swarming round our heads like bees | D |
- | |
'Drake from the bay of Cadiz hath come home | T |
And they are forth the Spaniards with a force | D |
Invincible ' | - |
'The Prince of Parma couched | U |
At Dunkirk e'en by torchlight makes to toil | V |
His shipwright thousands thousands in the ports | D |
Of Flanders and Brabant An hundred hendes | D |
Transports to his great squadron adding all | W |
For our confusion ' | - |
'England's great ally | H |
Henry of France by insurrection fallen | X |
Of him the said Prince Parma mocking cries | D |
He shall not help the Queen of England now | Y |
Not even with his tears more needing them | Z |
To weep his own misfortune ' | - |
Was that all | W |
The truth Not half and yet it was enough | A2 |
Albeit not half that half was well believed | B2 |
For all the land stirred in the half belief | C2 |
As dreamers stir about to wake and now | Y |
Comes the Queen's message all her lieges bid | D2 |
To rise 'lieftenants and the better sort | E2 |
Of gentlemen' whereby the Queen's grace meant | F2 |
As it may seem the sort that willed to rise | D |
And arm and come to aid her | G2 |
Distance wrought | H2 |
Safety for us my neighbours and near friends | D |
The peril lay along our channel coast | I2 |
And marked the city undefended fair | C |
Rich London O to think of Spanish mail | J2 |
Ringing of riotous conquerors in her street | K2 |
Chasing and frighting would there were no more | I |
To think on her fair wives and her fair maids | D |
But hope is fain to deem them forth of her | G2 |
- | |
Then Spain to the sacking then they tear away | B |
Arras and carv d work O then they break | L2 |
And toss and mar her quaint orf verie | G2 |
Priceless then split the wine kegs spill the mead | M2 |
Trail out the pride of ages in the dust | N2 |
Turn over with pikes her silken merchandise | D |
Strip off the pictures of her kings and spoil | V |
Their palaces that nigh five hundred years | D |
Have rued no alien footsteps on the floor | G2 |
And work for the days of miracle are gone | F |
All unimaginable waste and woe | O2 |
- | |
Some cried 'But England hath the better cause | D |
We think not those good days indeed are done | X |
We look to Heaven for aid on England's side ' | - |
Then other 'Nay the harvest is above | P2 |
God comforts there His own and ill men leaves | D |
To run long scores up in this present world | Q2 |
And pay in another | G2 |
Look not here for aid | R2 |
Latimer poor old saint died in the street | K2 |
With nigh men say three hundred of his kind | S2 |
All bid to look for worse death after death | T2 |
Succourless comfortless unfriended curst | S2 |
Mary and Gardiner and the Pope's man Pole | U2 |
Died upon down lulled in a silken shade | S2 |
Soothed with assurance of a waiting heaven | X |
And Peter peering through the golden gate | S2 |
With his gold key in 's hand to let them in ' | - |
- | |
'Nay leave ' quoth I 'the martyrs to their heaven | X |
And all who live the better that they died | S2 |
But look you now a nation hath no heaven | X |
A nation's life and work and wickedness | D |
And punishment or otherwise I say | B |
A nation's life and goodness and reward | S2 |
Are here And in my nation's righteous cause | D |
I look for aid and cry SO HELP ME GOD | S2 |
As I will help my righteous nation now | Y |
With all the best I have and know and am | V2 |
I trust Thou wilt not let her light be quenched | S2 |
I go to aid and if I fall I fall | W |
And God of nations leave my soul to Thee ' | - |
- | |
Many did say like words and all would give | W2 |
Of gold of weapons and of horses that | S2 |
They had to hand or on the spur o' the time | X2 |
Could gather My fair dame did sell her rings | D |
So others And they sent us well equipped | S2 |
Who minded to be in the coming fray | B |
Whether by land or sea my hope the last | S2 |
For I of old therewith was conversant | S2 |
- | |
Then as we rode down southward all the land | S2 |
Was at her harvesting The oats were cut | S2 |
Ere we were three days down and then the wheat | S2 |
And the wide country spite of loath d threat | S2 |
Was busy There was news to hearten us | D |
The Hollanders were coming roundly in | Y2 |
With sixty ships of war all fierce and full | Z2 |
Of spleen for not alone our sake but theirs | D |
Willing to brave encounter where they might | S2 |
- | |
So after five days we did sight the Sound | S2 |
And look on Plymouth harbour from the hill | A3 |
Then I full glad drew bridle lighted straight | S2 |
Ran down and mingled with a waiting crowd | S2 |
- | |
Many stood gazing on the level deep | B3 |
That scarce did tremble 't was in hue as sloes | D |
That hang till winter on a leafless bough | Y |
So black bulged down upon it a great cloud | S2 |
And probed it through and through with fork d stabs | D |
Incessant and rolled on it thunder bursts | D |
Till the dark water lowered as one afraid | S2 |
- | |
That was afar The land and nearer sea | D |
Lay sweltering in hot sunshine The brown beach | C3 |
Scarce whispered for a soft incoming tide | S2 |
Was gentle with it Green the water lapped | S2 |
And sparkled at all edges The night heavens | D |
Are not more thickly speckled o'er with stars | D |
Than that fair harbour with its fishing craft | S2 |
And crowds of galleys shooting to and fro | O2 |
Did feed the ships of war with their stout crews | D |
And bear aboard fresh water furniture | G2 |
Of war much lesser victual sallets fruit | S2 |
All manner equipment for the squadron sails | D |
Long spars | D |
Also was chaffering on the Hoe | O2 |
Buying and bargaining taking of leave | D3 |
With tears and kisses while on all hands pushed | S2 |
Tall lusty men with baskets on their heads | D |
Piled of fresh bread and biscuit newly drawn | F |
- | |
Then shouts 'The captains ' | - |
Raleigh Hawkins Drake | L2 |
Old Martin Frobisher and many more | G2 |
Howard the Lord High Admiral headed them | Z |
They coming leisurely from the bowling green | E3 |
Elbowed their way For in their stoutness loth | F3 |
To hurry when ill news first brake on them | Z |
They playing a match ashore ill news I say | D |
'The Spaniards are toward' while panic struck | G3 |
The people ran about them Drake cries out | S2 |
Knowing their fear should make the danger worse | D |
'Spaniards my masters Let the Spaniards wait | S2 |
Fall not a shouting for the boats is time | X2 |
To play the match out ay to win and then | H3 |
To beat the Spaniards ' | - |
So the rest gave way | D |
At his insistance playing that afternoon | I3 |
The bravest match one saith was ever scored | S2 |
- | |
'T was no time lost nay not a moment lost | S2 |
For look you when the winning cast was made | S2 |
The town was calm the anchors were all up | S |
The boats were manned to row them each to his ship | J3 |
The lowering cloud in the offing had gone south | K3 |
Against the wind and all was work stir heed | S2 |
Nothing forgot nor grudged nor slurred and most | S2 |
Men easy at heart as those brave sailors seemed | S2 |
- | |
And specially the women had put by | H |
On a sudden their deep dread yon Cornish coast | S2 |
Neared of his insolency by the foe | O2 |
With his high seacastles numerous seaforts | D |
Many his galleys out of number manned | S2 |
Each by three hundred slaves chained to the oar | G2 |
All his strong fleet of lesser ships but great | S2 |
As any of ours why that same Cornish coast | S2 |
Might have lain farther than the far west land | S2 |
So had a few stout hearted looks and words | D |
Wasted the meaning chilled the menace of | P2 |
That frightful danger imminent hard at hand | S2 |
- | |
'The captains come the captains ' and I turned | S2 |
As they drew on I marked the urgency | D |
Flashing in each man's eye fain to be forth | R |
But willing to be held at leisure Then | H3 |
Cried a fair woman of the better sort | S2 |
To Howard passing by her pannier'd ass | D |
'Apples Lord Admiral good captains all | W |
Look you red apples sharp and sweet are these ' | - |
- | |
Quoth he a little chafed 'Let be let be | D |
No time is this for bargaining good dame | G |
Let be ' and pushing past 'Beshrew thy heart | S2 |
And mine that I should say it bargain nay | D |
I meant not bargaining ' she falters crying | L3 |
'I brought them my poor gift Pray you now take | L2 |
Pray you ' | - |
He stops and with a childlike smile | M3 |
That makes the dame amend stoops down to choose | D |
While I step up that love not many words | D |
'What should he do ' quoth I 'to help this need | S2 |
That hath a bag of money and good will ' | - |
'Charter a ship ' he saith nor e'er looks up | S |
'And put aboard her victual tackle shot | S2 |
Ought he can lay his hand on look he give | W2 |
Wide sea room to the Spanish hounds make sail | J2 |
For ships of ours to ease of wounded men | H3 |
And succour with that freight he brings withal ' | - |
- | |
His foot yet speaking was aboard his boat | S2 |
His comrades each red apples in the hand | S2 |
Come after and with blessings manifold | S2 |
Cheering and cries 'Good luck good luck ' they speed | S2 |
- | |
'T was three years three months past | S2 |
O yet methinks | D |
I hear that thunder crash i' the offing hear | G2 |
Their words who when the crowd melted away | D |
Gathered together Comrades we of old | S2 |
About to adventure us at Howard's best | S2 |
On the unsafe sea For he a Catholic | N3 |
As is my wife and therefore my one child | S2 |
Detested and defied th' most Catholic King | L3 |
Philip He trusted of her grace and cause | D |
She had the nation following suit he deemed | S2 |
'T was whisper'd ay and Raleigh and Francis Drake | L2 |
No less the event of battle doubtfuller | G2 |
Than English tongue might own the peril dread | S2 |
As ought in this world ever can be deemed | S2 |
That is not yet past praying for | G2 |
So far | G2 |
So good As birds awaked do stretch their wings | D |
The ships did stretch forth sail full clad they towered | S2 |
And right into the sunset went hull down | O3 |
E'en with the sun | X |
To us in twilight left | S2 |
Glory being over came despondent thought | S2 |
That mocked men's eager act From many a hill | A3 |
As if the land complained to Heaven they sent | S2 |
A towering shaft of murky incense high | H |
Livid with black despair in lieu of praise | D |
The green wood hissed at every beacon's edge | P3 |
That widen'd fear The smell of pitchpots fled | S2 |
Far over the field and tongues of fire leaped up | S |
Ay till all England woke and knew and wailed | S2 |
- | |
But we i' the night through that detested reek | Q3 |
Rode eastward Every mariner's voice was given | X |
'Gainst any fear for the western shires The cry | H |
Was all 'They sail for Calais roads and thence | D |
The goal is London ' | - |
Nought slept man nor beast | S2 |
Ravens and rooks flew forth and with black wings | D |
Affrighted swept our eyes Pale eddying moths | D |
Came by in crowds and whirled them on the flames | D |
- | |
We rode till pierced those beacon fires the shafts | D |
O' the sun and their red smouldering ashes dulled | S2 |
Beside them scorched smoke blackened weary leaned | S2 |
Men that had fed them dropped their tired arms | D |
And dozed | S2 |
And also through that day we rode | S2 |
Till reapers at their nooning sat awhile | M3 |
On the shady side of corn shocks all the talk | R3 |
Of high of low or them that went or stayed | S2 |
Determined but unhopeful desperate | S2 |
To strike a blow for England ere she fell | S3 |
- | |
And ever loomed the Spaniard to our thought | S2 |
Still waxed the fame of that great Armament | S2 |
New horsemen joining swelled it more and more | G2 |
Their bulky ship galleons having five decks | D |
Zabraes pataches galleys of Portugal | T3 |
Caravels rowed with oars their galliasses | D |
Vast and complete with chapels chambers towers | D |
And in the said ships of free mariners | D |
Eight thousand and of slaves two thousand more | G2 |
An army twenty thousand strong O then | H3 |
Of culverin of double culverin | H3 |
Ordnance and arms all furniture of war | G2 |
Victual and last their fierceness and great spleen | H3 |
Willing to founder burn split wreck themselves | D |
But they would land fight overcome and reign | H3 |
- | |
Then would we count up England Set by theirs | D |
Her fleet as walnut shells And a few pikes | D |
Stored in the belfries and a few brave men | H3 |
For wielding them But as the morning wore | G2 |
And we went ever eastward ever on | H3 |
Poured forth poured down a marching multitude | S2 |
With stir about the towns and waggons rolled | S2 |
With offerings for the army and the fleet | S2 |
Then to our hearts valour crept home again | H3 |
The loath d name of Alva fanning it | S2 |
Alva who did convert from our old faith | U3 |
With many a black deed done for a white cause | D |
So spake they erewhile to it dedicate | S2 |
Them whom not death could change nor fire nor sword | S2 |
To thirst for his undoing | L3 |
- | |
Ay as I am a Christian man our thirst | S2 |
Was comparable with Queen Mary's All | W |
The talk was of confounding heretics | D |
The heretics the Spaniards Yet methought | S2 |
'O their great multitude Not harbour room | V3 |
On our long coast for that great multitude | S2 |
They land for who can let them give us battle | T3 |
And after give us burial Who but they | D |
For he that liveth shall be flying north | R |
To bear off wife and child Our very graves | D |
Shall Spaniards dig and in the daisied grass | D |
Trample them down ' | - |
Ay whoso will be brave | W3 |
Let him be brave beforehand After th' event | S2 |
If by good pleasure of God it go as then | H3 |
He shall be brave an' liketh him I say | D |
Was no man but that deadly peril feared | S2 |
- | |
Nights riding two Scant rest Days riding three | G2 |
Then Foulkstone Need is none to tell all forth | R |
The gathering stores and men the charter'd ship | J3 |
That I with two my friends got ready for sea | G2 |
Ready she was so many another small | W |
But nimble and we sailing hugged the shore | G2 |
Scarce venturing out so Drake had willed a league | X3 |
And running westward aye as best we might | S2 |
When suddenly behold them | Z |
On they rocked | S2 |
Majestical slow sailing with the wind | S2 |
O such a sight O such a sight mine eyes | D |
Never shall you see more | G2 |
In crescent form | Y3 |
A vasty crescent nigh two leagues across | D |
From horn to horn the lesser ships within | H3 |
The great without they did bestride as 't were | G2 |
And make a township on the narrow seas | D |
- | |
It was about the point of dawn and light | S2 |
All grey the sea and ghostly grey the ships | D |
And after in the offing rocked our fleet | S2 |
Having lain quiet in the summer dark | Z3 |
- | |
O then methought 'Flash blessed gold of dawn | H3 |
And touch the topsails of our Admiral | T3 |
That he may after guide an emulous flock | A4 |
Old England's innocent white bleating lambs | D |
Let Spain within a pike's length hear them bleat | S2 |
Delivering of their pretty talk in a tongue | B4 |
Whose meaning cries not for interpreter ' | - |
- | |
And while I spoke their topsails friend and foe | O2 |
Glittered and there was noise of guns pale smoke | C4 |
Lagged after curdling on the sun fleck'd main | H3 |
And after that What after that my soul | U2 |
Who ever saw weakling white butterflies | D |
Chasing of gallant swans and charging them | Z |
And spitting at them long red streaks of flame | G |
We saw the ships of England even so | O2 |
As in my vaunting wish that mocked itself | D4 |
With 'Fool O fool to brag at the edge of loss ' | - |
We saw the ships of England even so | O2 |
Run at the Spaniards on a wind lay to | S2 |
Bespatter them with hail of battle then | H3 |
Take their prerogative of nimble steerage | P3 |
Fly off and ere the enemy heavy in hand | S2 |
Delivered his reply to the wasteful wave | W3 |
That made its grave of foam race out of range | P3 |
Then tack and crowd all sail and after them | Z |
Again | H3 |
So harassed they that mighty foe | O2 |
Moving in all its bravery to the east | S2 |
And some were fine with pictures of the saints | D |
Angels with flying hair and peak d wings | D |
And high red crosses wrought upon their sails | D |
From every mast brave flag or ensign flew | S2 |
And their long silken pennons serpented | S2 |
Loose to the morning And the galley slaves | D |
Albeit their chains did clink sang at the oar | G2 |
- | |
The sea was striped e'en like a tiger skin | H3 |
With wide ship wakes | D |
And many cried amazed | S2 |
'What means their patience ' | - |
'Lo you ' others said | S2 |
'They pay with fear for their great costliness | D |
Some of their costliest needs must other guard | S2 |
Once guarded and in port look to yourselves | D |
They count one hundred and fifty It behoves | D |
Better they suffer this long running fight | S2 |
Better for them than that they give us battle | T3 |
And so delay the shelter of their roads | D |
- | |
'Two of their caravels we sank and one | H3 |
Fouled with her consort in the rigging took | E4 |
Ere she could catch the wind when she rode free | G2 |
And we have riddled many a sail and split | S2 |
Of spars a score or two What then To morrow | O2 |
They look to straddle across the strait and hold | S2 |
Having aye Calais for a shelter hold | S2 |
Our ships in fight To morrow shall give account | S2 |
For our to day They will not we pass north | R |
To meddle with Parma's flotilla their hope | F4 |
Being Parma and a convoy they would be | G2 |
For his flat boats that bode invasion to us | D |
And if he reach to London ruin defeat ' | - |
- | |
Three fleets the sun went down on theirs of fame | G |
Th' Armada After space old England's few | S2 |
And after that our dancing cockle shells | D |
The volunteers They took some pride in us | D |
For we were nimble and we brought them powder | G2 |
Shot weapons They were short of these Ill found | S2 |
Ill found The bitter fruit of evil thrift | S2 |
But while obsequious darting here and there | G2 |
We took their messages from ship to ship | J3 |
From ship to shore the moving majesties | D |
Made Calais Roads cast anchor all their less | D |
In the middle ward their greater ships outside | S2 |
Impregnable castles fearing not assault | S2 |
- | |
So did we read their thought and read it wrong | G4 |
While after the running fight we rode at ease | D |
For many as is the way of Englishmen | H3 |
Having made light of our stout deeds and light | S2 |
O' the effects proceeding saw these spread | S2 |
To view The Spanish Admiral's mighty host | S2 |
Albeit not broken harass'd | S2 |
Some did tow | O2 |
Others that we had plagued disabled rent | S2 |
Many full heavily damaged made their berths | D |
- | |
Then did the English anchor out of range | P3 |
To close was not their wisdom with such foe | O2 |
Rather to chase him following in the rear | G2 |
Ay truly they were giants in our eyes | D |
And in our own They took scant heed of us | D |
And we looked on and knew not what to think | H4 |
Only that we were lost men a lost Isle | M3 |
In every Spaniard's mind both great and small | W |
- | |
But no such thought had place in Howard's soul | U2 |
And when 't was dark and all their sails were furled | S2 |
When the wind veered a few points to the west | S2 |
And the tide turned ruffling along the roads | D |
He sent eight fireships forging down to them | Z |
- | |
Terrible Terrible | T3 |
Blood red pillars of reek | Q3 |
They looked on that vast host and troubled it | S2 |
As on th' Egyptian host One looked of old | S2 |
- | |
Then all the heavens were rent with a great cry | H |
The red avengers went right on right on | H3 |
For none could let them then was ruin reek flame | G |
Against th' unwieldy huge leviathans | D |
They drave they fell upon them as wild beasts | D |
And all together they did plunge and grind | S2 |
Their reefed sails set a blazing these flew loose | D |
And forth like banners of destruction sped | S2 |
It was to look on as the body of hell | S3 |
Seething and some their cables cut ran foul | I4 |
Of one the other while the ruddy fire | G2 |
Sped on aloft One ship was stranded One | H3 |
Foundered and went down burning all the sea | D |
Red as an angry sunset was made fell | S3 |
With smoke and blazing spars that rode upright | S2 |
For as the fireships burst they scattered forth | R |
Full dangerous wreckage All the sky they scored | S2 |
With flying sails and rocking masts and yards | D |
Licked of long flames And flitting tinder sank | J4 |
In eddies on the plagued mixed mob of ships | D |
That cared no more for harbour and were fain | H3 |
At any hazard to be forth and leave | D3 |
Their berths in the blood red haze | D |
- | |
It was at twelve | K4 |
O' the clock when this fell out for as the eight | S2 |
Were towed and left upon the friendly tide | S2 |
To stalk like evil angels over the deep | B3 |
And stare upon the Spaniards we did hear | G2 |
Their midnight bells It was at morning dawn | H3 |
After our mariners thus had harried them | Z |
I looked my last upon their fleet and all | W |
That night had cut their cables put to sea | D |
And scattering wide towards the Flemish coast | S2 |
Did seem to make for Greveline | H3 |
- | |
As for us | D |
The captains told us off to wait on them | Z |
Bearers of wounded enemies and friends | D |
Bearers of messages bearers of store | G2 |
- | |
We saw not ought but heard enough we heard | S2 |
And God be thanked of that long scattering chase | D |
And driving of Sidonia from his hope | F4 |
Parma who could not ought without his ships | D |
And looked for them to break the Dutch blockade | S2 |
He meanwhile chafing lion like in his lair | G2 |
We heard and he for all one summer day | S2 |
Fenning and Drake and Raynor Fenton Cross | D |
And more by Greveline where they once again | H3 |
Did get the wind o' the Spaniards noise of guns | D |
For coming with the wind wielding themselves | D |
Which way they listed while in close array | S2 |
The Spaniards stood but on defence our own | H3 |
Went at them charged them high and charged them sore | G2 |
And gave them broadside after broadside Ay | S2 |
Till all the shot was spent both great and small | W |
It failed and in regard of that same want | S2 |
They thought it not convenient to pursue | D |
Their vessels farther | G2 |
They were huge withal | W |
And might not be encountered one to one | H3 |
But close conjoined they fought and poured great store | G2 |
Of ordnance at our ships though many of theirs | D |
Shot thorow and thorow scarce might keep afloat | S2 |
- | |
Many were captured fighting many sank | J4 |
This news they brought returned perforce and left | S2 |
The Spaniards forging north Themselves did watch | L4 |
The river mouth till Howard his new store | G2 |
Gathered encounter coveting once more | G2 |
Made after them with Drake | L2 |
And lo the wind | S2 |
Got up to help us He yet flying north | R |
Their doughty Admiral made all his wake | L2 |
To smoke and would not end to fight but strewed | S2 |
The ocean with his wreckage And the wind | S2 |
Drave him before it and the storm was fell | W |
And he went up to th' uncouth northern sea | D |
There did our mariners leave him Then did joy | P3 |
Run like a sunbeam over the land and joy | P3 |
Rule in the stout heart of a regnant Queen | H3 |
- | |
But now the counsel came 'Every man home | T |
For after Scotland rounded when he curves | D |
Southward and all the batter'd armament | S2 |
What hinders on our undefended coast | S2 |
To land where'er he listeth Every man | H3 |
Home ' | - |
And we mounted and did open forth | R |
Like a great fan to east to north to west | S2 |
And rumour met us flying filtering | L3 |
Down through the border News of wicked joy | P3 |
The wreckers rich in the Faroes and the Isles | D |
Orkney and all the clansmen full of gear | G2 |
Gathered from helpless mariners tempted in | H3 |
To their undoing while a treacherous crew | D |
Let the storm work upon their lives its will | W |
Spoiled them and gathered all their riches up | S |
Then did they meet like fate from Irish kernes | D |
Who dealt with them according to their wont | S2 |
- | |
In a great storm of wind that tore green leaves | D |
And dashed them wet upon me came I home | T |
Then greeted me my dame and Rosamund | S2 |
Our one dear child the heir of these my fields | D |
That I should sigh to think it There no more | G2 |
- | |
Being right weary I betook me straight | S2 |
To longed for sleep and I did dream and dream | M4 |
Through all that dolourous storm though noise of guns | D |
Daunted the country in the moonless night | S2 |
Yet sank I deep and deeper in the dream | M4 |
And took my fill of rest | S2 |
A voice a touch | P |
'Wake ' Lo my wife beside me her wet hair | G2 |
She wrung with her wet hands and cried 'A ship | J3 |
I have been down the beach O pitiful | W |
A Spanish ship ashore between the rocks | D |
And none to guide our people Wake ' | - |
Then I | H |
Raised on mine elbow looked it was high day | S2 |
In the windy pother seas came in like smoke | C4 |
That blew among the trees as fine small rain | H3 |
And then the broken water sun besprent | S2 |
Glitter'd fell back and showed her high and fast | S2 |
A caravel a pinnace that methought | S2 |
To some great ship had longed her hap alone | H3 |
Of all that multitude it was to drive | N4 |
Between this land of England her right foe | O2 |
And that most cruel where for all their faith | U3 |
Was one no drop of water mote they drink | H4 |
For love of God nor love of gold | S2 |
I rose | D |
And hasted I was soon among the folk | C4 |
But late for work The crew spent faint and bruised | S2 |
Saved for the most part of our men lay prone | H3 |
In grass and women served them bread and mead | S2 |
Other the sea laid decently alone | H3 |
Ready for burial And a litter stood | S2 |
In shade Upon it lying a goodly man | H3 |
The govourner or the captain as it seemed | S2 |
Dead in his stiff gold broider'd bravery | D |
And epaulet and sword They must have loved | S2 |
That man for many had died to bring him in | H3 |
Their boats stove in were stranded here and there | G2 |
In one but how I know not brought they him | O4 |
And he was laid upon a folded flag | P4 |
Many times doubled for his greater ease | D |
That was our thought and we made signs to them | Z |
He should have sepulture But when they knew | D |
They must needs leave him for some marched them off | Q4 |
For more safe custody they made great moan | H3 |
- | |
After with two my neighbours drawing nigh | H |
One of them touched the Spaniard's hand and said | S2 |
'Dead is he but not cold ' the other then | H3 |
'Nay in good truth methinks he be not dead ' | - |
Again the first 'An' if he breatheth yet | S2 |
He lies at his last gasp ' And this went off | Q4 |
And left us two that by the litter stayed | S2 |
Looking on one another and we looked | S2 |
For neither willed to speak and yet looked on | H3 |
Then would he have me know the meet was fixed | S2 |
For nine o' the clock and to be brief with you | D |
He left me And I had the Spaniard home | T |
What other could be done I had him home | T |
Men on his litter bare him set him down | H3 |
In a fair chamber that was nigh the hall | W |
- | |
And yet he waked not from his deathly swoon | H3 |
Albeit my wife did try her skill and now | H3 |
Bad lay him on a bed when lo the folds | D |
Of that great ensign covered store of gold | S2 |
Rich Spanish ducats raiment Moorish blades | D |
Chased in right goodly wise and missals rare | G2 |
And other gear I locked it for my part | S2 |
Into an armoury and that fair flag | P4 |
While we did talk full low till he should end | S2 |
Spread over him Methought the man shall die | H |
Under his country's colours he was brave | W3 |
His deadly wound to that doth testify | H |
- | |
And when 't was seemly order'd Rosamund | S2 |
My daughter who had looked not yet on death | T2 |
Came in a face all marvel pity and dread | S2 |
Lying against her shoulder sword long flowers | D |
White hollyhocks to cross upon his breast | S2 |
Slowly she turned as of that sight afeard | S2 |
But while with daunted heart she moved anigh | H |
His eyelids quiver'd quiver'd then the lip | J3 |
And he reviving with a sob looked up | S |
And set on her the midnight of his eyes | D |
- | |
Then she in act to place the burial gift | S2 |
Bending above him and her flaxen hair | G2 |
Fall'n to her hand drew back and stood upright | S2 |
Comely and tall her innocent fair face | D |
Cover'd with blushes more of joy than shame | G |
'Father ' she cried 'O father I am glad | S2 |
Look you the enemy liveth ' ''T is enough | H |
My maiden ' quoth her mother 'thou may'st forth | R |
But say an Av first for him with me ' | - |
- | |
Then they with hands upright at foot o' his bed | S2 |
Knelt his dark dying eyes at gaze on them | Z |
Till as I think for wonder at them more | G2 |
Than for his proper strength he could not die | S2 |
- | |
So in obedient wise my daughter risen | H3 |
And going let a smile of comforting cheer | G2 |
Lift her sweet lip and that was all of her | G2 |
For many a night and day that he beheld | S2 |
- | |
And then withal my dame a leech of skill | W |
Tended the Spaniard fain to heal his wound | S2 |
Her women aiding at their best And he | D |
'Twixt life and death awaken'd in the night | S2 |
Full oft in his own tongue would make his moan | H3 |
And when he whisper'd any word I knew | D |
If I was present for to pleasure him | O4 |
Then made I repetition of the same | G |
'Cordova ' quoth he faintly 'Cordova ' | - |
'T was the first word he mutter'd 'Ay we know ' | - |
Quoth I 'the stoutness of that fight ye made | S2 |
Against the Moors and their Mahometry | G2 |
And dispossess'd the men of fame the fierce | D |
Khalifs of Cordova thy home belike | P4 |
Thy city A fair city Cordova ' | - |
- | |
Then after many days while his wound healed | S2 |
He with abundant seemly sign set forth | R |
His thanks but as for language had we none | H3 |
And oft he strove and failed to let us know | O2 |
Some wish he had but could not so a week | P4 |
Two weeks went by Then Rosamund my girl | W |
Hearing her mother plain on this she saith | R |
'So please you madam show the enemy | D |
A Psalter in our English tongue and fetch | R4 |
And give him that same book my father found | S2 |
Wrapped in the ensign Are they not the same | G |
Those holy words The Spaniard being devout | S2 |
He needs must know them ' | - |
'Peace thou pretty fool | W |
Is this a time to teach an alien tongue ' | - |
Her mother made for answer 'He is sick | P4 |
The Spaniard ' 'Cry you mercy ' quoth my girl | W |
'But I did think 't were easy to let show | O2 |
How both the Psalters are of meaning like | P4 |
If he know Latin and 't is like he doth | R |
So might he choose a verse to tell his thought ' | - |
- | |
Then said I ay I did 'The girl shall try ' | - |
And straight I took her to the Spaniard's side | S2 |
And he admiring at her all his face | D |
Changed to a joy that almost showed as fear | G2 |
So innocent holy she did look so grave | H |
Her pitiful eyes | D |
She sat beside his bed | S2 |
He covered with the ensign yet and took | P4 |
And showed the Psalters both and she did speak | P4 |
Her English words but gazing was enough | H |
For him at her sweet dimple her blue eyes | D |
That shone her English blushes Rosamund | S2 |
My beautiful dear child He did but gaze | D |
And not perceive her meaning till she touched | S2 |
His hand and in her Psalter showed the word | S2 |
- | |
Then was all light to him he laughed for joy | P3 |
And took the Latin Missal O full soon | H3 |
Alas how soon one read the other's thought | S2 |
Before she left him she had learned his name | G |
Alonzo told him hers and found the care | G2 |
Made night and day uneasy Cordova | H |
There dwelt his father there his kin nor knew | D |
Whether he lived or died whether in thrall | W |
To the Islanders for lack of ransom pined | S2 |
Or rued the galling yoke of slavery | D |
- | |
So did he cast him on our kindness I | S2 |
And care not who may know it I was kind | S2 |
And for that our stout Queen did think foul scorn | H3 |
To kill the Spanish prisoners and to guard | S2 |
So many could not liefer being to rid | S2 |
Our country of them than to spite their own | H3 |
I made him as I might that matter learn | H3 |
Eking scant Latin with my daughter's wit | S2 |
And told him men let forth and driven forth | R |
Did crowd our harbours for the ports of Spain | H3 |
By one of whom he with good aid of mine | H3 |
Should let his tidings go and I plucked forth | R |
His ducats that a meet reward might be | D |
Then he the water standing in his eyes | D |
Made old King David's words due thanks convey | H |
- | |
Then Rosamund this all made plain arose | D |
And curtsey'd to the Spaniard Ah methinks | D |
I yet behold her gracious innocent | S2 |
And flaxen haired and blushing maidenly | W |
When turning she retired and his black eyes | D |
That hunger'd after her did follow on | H3 |
And I bethought me 'Thou shalt see no more | G2 |
Thou goodly enemy my one ewe lamb ' | - |
- | |
O I would make short work of this The wound | S2 |
Healed and the Spaniard rose then could he stand | S2 |
And then about his chamber walk at ease | D |
- | |
Now we had counsell'd how to have him home | T |
And that same trading vessel beating up | S |
The Irish Channel at my will that same | G |
I charter'd for to serve me in the war | G2 |
Next was I minded should mine enemy | D |
Deliver to his father and his land | S2 |
Daily we looked for her till in our cove | H |
Upon that morn when first the Spaniard walked | S2 |
Behold her rocking and I hasted down | H3 |
And left him waiting in the house | D |
Woe 's me | D |
All being ready speed I home and lo | W |
My Rosamund that by the Spaniard sat | S2 |
Upon a cushion'd settle book in hand | S2 |
I needs must think how in the deep alcove | H |
Thick chequer'd shadows of the window glass | D |
Did fall across her kirtle and her locks | D |
For I did see her thus no more | G2 |
She held | S2 |
Her Psalter and he his and slowly read | S2 |
Till he would stop her at the needed word | S2 |
'O well is thee ' she read my Rosamund | S2 |
'O well is thee and happy shalt thou be | D |
Thy wife ' and there he stopped her and he took | P4 |
And kissed her hand and show'd in 's own a ring | P4 |
Taking no heed of me no heed at all | W |
- | |
Then I burst forth the choler red i' my face | D |
When I did see her blush and put it on | H3 |
'Give me ' quoth I and Rosamund afraid | S2 |
Gave me the ring I set my heel on it | S2 |
Crushed it and sent the rubies scattering forth | R |
And did in righteous anger storm at him | O4 |
'What what ' quoth I 'before her father's eyes | D |
Thou universal villain thou ingrate | S2 |
Thou enemy whom I shelter'd fed restored | S2 |
Most basest of mankind ' And Rosamund | S2 |
Arisen her forehead pressed against mine arm | S4 |
And 'Father ' cries she 'father ' | - |
And I stormed | S2 |
At him while in his Spanish he replied | S2 |
As one would speak me fair 'Thou Spanish hound ' | - |
'Father ' she pleaded 'Alien vile ' quoth I | S2 |
'Plucked from the death wilt thou repay me thus | D |
It is but three times thou hast set thine eyes | D |
On this my daughter ' 'Father ' moans my girl | W |
And I not willing to be so withstood | S2 |
Spoke roughly to her Then the Spaniard's eyes | D |
Blazed then he stormed at me in his own tongue | P4 |
And all his Spanish arrogance and pride | S2 |
Broke witless on my wrathful English Then | H3 |
He let me know for I perceived it well | W |
He reckon'd him mine equal thought foul scorn | H3 |
Of my displeasure and was wroth with me | D |
As I with him 'Father ' sighed Rosamund | S2 |
'Go get thee to thy mother girl ' quoth I | S2 |
And slowly slowly she betook herself | H |
Down the long hall in lowly wise she went | S2 |
And made her moans | D |
But when my girl was gone | H3 |
I stood at fault th' occasion master'd me | D |
Belike it master'd him for both felt mute | S2 |
I calmed me and he calmed him as he might | S2 |
For I bethought me I was yet an host | S2 |
And he bethought him on the worthiness | D |
Of my first deeds | D |
So made I sign to him | O4 |
The tide was up and soon I had him forth | R |
Delivered him his goods commended him | O4 |
To the captain o' the vessel then plucked off | H |
My hat in seemly fashion taking leave | H |
And he was not outdone but every way | H |
Gave me respect and on the deck we two | D |
Parted as I did hope to meet no more | G2 |
- | |
Alas my Rosamund my Rosamund | S2 |
She did not weep no Plain upon me no | W |
Her eyes mote well have lost the trick of tears | D |
As new washed flowers shake off the down dropt rain | H3 |
And make denial of it yet more blue | D |
And fair of favour afterward so they | H |
The wild woodrose was not more fresh of blee | D |
Than her soft dimpled cheek but I beheld | S2 |
Come home a token hung about her neck | P4 |
Sparkling upon her bosom for his sake | P4 |
Her love the Spaniard she denied it not | S2 |
All unaware good sooth such love was bale | D |
- | |
And all that day went like another day | S2 |
Ay all the next then was I glad at heart | S2 |
Methought 'I am glad thou wilt not waste thy youth | R |
Upon an alien man mine enemy | D |
Thy nation's enemy In truth in truth | R |
This likes me very well My most dear child | S2 |
Forget yon grave dark mariner The Lord | S2 |
Everlasting ' I besought 'bring it to pass ' | - |
- | |
Stealeth a darker day within my hall | D |
A winter day of wind and driving foam | T |
They tell me that my girl is sick and yet | S2 |
Not very sick I may not hour by hour | G2 |
More than one watching of a moon that wanes | D |
Make chronicle of change A parlous change | P3 |
When he looks back to that same moon at full | D |
- | |
Ah ah methought 't will pass It did not pass | D |
Though never she made moan I saw the rings | D |
Drop from her small white wasted hand And I | S2 |
Her father tamed of grief I would have given | H3 |
My land my name to have her as of old | S2 |
Ay Rosamund I speak of with the small | D |
White face Ay Rosamund O near as white | S2 |
And mournfuller by much her mother dear | G2 |
Drooped by her couch and while of hope and fear | G2 |
Lifted or left as by a changeful tide | S2 |
We thought 'The girl is better ' or we thought | S2 |
'The girl will die ' that jewel from her neck | P4 |
She drew and prayed me send it to her love | H |
A token she was true e'en to the end | S2 |
What matter'd now But whom to send and how | H3 |
To reach the man I found an old poor priest | S2 |
Some peril 't was for him and me she writ | S2 |
My pretty Rosamund her heart's farewell | D |
She kissed the letter and that old poor priest | S2 |
Who had eaten of my bread and shelter'd him | O4 |
Under my roof in troublous times he took | P4 |
And to content her on this errand went | S2 |
While she as done with earth did wait the end | S2 |
- | |
Mankind bemoan them on the bitterness | D |
Of death Nay rather let them chide the grief | H |
Of living chide the waste of mother love | H |
For babes that joy to get away to God | S2 |
The waste of work and moil and thought and thrift | S2 |
And father love for sons that heed it not | S2 |
And daughters lost and gone Ay let them chide | S2 |
These Yet I chide not That which I have done | H3 |
Was rightly done and what thereon befell | D |
Could make no right a wrong e'en were 't to do | S2 |
Again | H3 |
I will be brief The days drag on | H3 |
My soul forebodes her death my lonely age | P3 |
Once I despondent in the moaning wood | S2 |
Look out and lo a caravel at sea | D |
A man that climbs the rock and presently | D |
The Spaniard | S2 |
I did greet him proud no more | G2 |
He had braved durance as I knew ay death | R |
To land on th' Island soil In broken words | D |
Of English he did ask me how she fared | S2 |
Quoth I 'She is dying Spaniard Rosamund | S2 |
My girl will die ' but he is fain saith he | D |
To talk with her and all his mind to speak | P4 |
I answer 'Ay my whilome enemy | D |
But she is dying ' 'Nay now nay ' quoth he | D |
'So be she liveth ' and he moved me yet | S2 |
For answer then quoth I 'Come life come death | R |
What thou wilt say ' | - |
Soon made we Rosamund | S2 |
Aware she lying on the settle wan | H3 |
As a lily in the shade and while she not | S2 |
Believed for marvelling comes he roundly in | H3 |
The tall grave Spaniard and with but one smile | D |
One look of ruth upon her small pale face | D |
All slowly as with unaccustom'd mouth | R |
Betakes him to that English he hath conned | S2 |
Setting the words out plain | H3 |
'Child Rosamund | S2 |
Love An so please thee I would be thy man | H3 |
By all the saints will I be good to thee | D |
Come ' | - |
Come what think you would she come Ay ay | S2 |
They love us but our love is not their life | H |
For the dark mariner's love lived Rosamund | S2 |
Soon for his kiss she bloomed smiled for his smile | D |
The Spaniard reaped e'en as th' Evangel saith | D |
And bore in 's bosom forth my golden sheaf | H |
She loved her father and her mother well | D |
But loved the Spaniard better It was sad | S2 |
To part but she did part and it was far | G2 |
To go but she did go The priest was brought | S2 |
The ring was bless'd that bound my Rosamund | S2 |
She sailed and I shall never see her more | G2 |
- | |
One soweth and another reapeth Ay | S2 |
Too true too true | S2 |
Jean Ingelow
(1)
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