The Eve Of St. Agnes Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCBBDBDD EFGFFHHHH IJKJJLJLL MNONNHNHH PQRQQSQSS LTLTTUTVV WXYXXZXZZ HTHTTA2TA2A2 ZHZHHA2HA2A2 RHRHHRHRR B2TB2TTHTHH TTTTTZTZZ QC2QC2C2PC2PP LHD2HHLHLL A2E2A2E2E2TE2TT HTHTTF2TF2F2 ZHZHHHHHH RG2RG2G2ZG2TH2 HTHTTTTTT B2ZB2ZZTZTT ZTZTTA2TA2A2 TZTZZTZTT A2TA2TTRTRR HHHHHHHHH A2TA2TTTTTT A2HA2HHTHTT TQTQQA2QA2A2 THTHHTHTT A2TA2TTA2TA2A2 I2TI2TTA2TA2A2 TTTTTG2TG2G2 J2F2J2F2F2HF2HH THTHHA2HA2A2 HI2HI2I2K2I2K2H A2ZA2ZZZZH2H2 ZHZHHHHHH HA2HA2A2G2A2G2G2 HHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHH HHHHHZHZZ HHHHHHHHH H2L2H2L2M2HL2HHSt Agnes' Eve Ah bitter chill it was | A |
The owl for all his feathers was a cold | B |
The hare limp'd trembling through the frozen grass | C |
And silent was the flock in woolly fold | B |
Numb were the Beadsman's fingers while he told | B |
His rosary and while his frosted breath | D |
Like pious incense from a censer old | B |
Seem'd taking flight for heaven without a death | D |
Past the sweet Virgin's picture while his prayer he saith | D |
- | |
His prayer he saith this patient holy man | E |
Then takes his lamp and riseth from his knees | F |
And back returneth meagre barefoot wan | G |
Along the chapel aisle by slow degrees | F |
The sculptur'd dead on each side seem to freeze | F |
Emprison'd in black purgatorial rails | H |
Knights ladies praying in dumb orat'ries | H |
He passeth by and his weak spirit fails | H |
To think how they may ache in icy hoods and mails | H |
- | |
Northward he turneth through a little door | I |
And scarce three steps ere Music's golden tongue | J |
Flatter'd to tears this aged man and poor | K |
But no already had his deathbell rung | J |
The joys of all his life were said and sung | J |
His was harsh penance on St Agnes' Eve | L |
Another way he went and soon among | J |
Rough ashes sat he for his soul's reprieve | L |
And all night kept awake for sinners' sake to grieve | L |
- | |
That ancient Beadsman heard the prelude soft | M |
And so it chanc'd for many a door was wide | N |
From hurry to and fro Soon up aloft | O |
The silver snarling trumpets 'gan to chide | N |
The level chambers ready with their pride | N |
Were glowing to receive a thousand guests | H |
The carved angels ever eager eyed | N |
Star'd where upon their heads the cornice rests | H |
With hair blown back and wings put cross wise on their breasts | H |
- | |
At length burst in the argent revelry | P |
With plume tiara and all rich array | Q |
Numerous as shadows haunting faerily | R |
The brain new stuff'd in youth with triumphs gay | Q |
Of old romance These let us wish away | Q |
And turn sole thoughted to one Lady there | S |
Whose heart had brooded all that wintry day | Q |
On love and wing'd St Agnes' saintly care | S |
As she had heard old dames full many times declare | S |
- | |
They told her how upon St Agnes' Eve | L |
Young virgins might have visions of delight | T |
And soft adorings from their loves receive | L |
Upon the honey'd middle of the night | T |
If ceremonies due they did aright | T |
As supperless to bed they must retire | U |
And couch supine their beauties lily white | T |
Nor look behind nor sideways but require | V |
Of Heaven with upward eyes for all that they desire | V |
- | |
Full of this whim was thoughtful Madeline | W |
The music yearning like a God in pain | X |
She scarcely heard her maiden eyes divine | Y |
Fix'd on the floor saw many a sweeping train | X |
Pass by she heeded not at all in vain | X |
Came many a tiptoe amorous cavalier | Z |
And back retir'd not cool'd by high disdain | X |
But she saw not her heart was otherwhere | Z |
She sigh'd for Agnes' dreams the sweetest of the year | Z |
- | |
She danc'd along with vague regardless eyes | H |
Anxious her lips her breathing quick and short | T |
The hallow'd hour was near at hand she sighs | H |
Amid the timbrels and the throng'd resort | T |
Of whisperers in anger or in sport | T |
'Mid looks of love defiance hate and scorn | A2 |
Hoodwink'd with faery fancy all amort | T |
Save to St Agnes and her lambs unshorn | A2 |
And all the bliss to be before to morrow morn | A2 |
- | |
So purposing each moment to retire | Z |
She linger'd still Meantime across the moors | H |
Had come young Porphyro with heart on fire | Z |
For Madeline Beside the portal doors | H |
Buttress'd from moonlight stands he and implores | H |
All saints to give him sight of Madeline | A2 |
But for one moment in the tedious hours | H |
That he might gaze and worship all unseen | A2 |
Perchance speak kneel touch kiss in sooth such things have been | A2 |
- | |
He ventures in let no buzz'd whisper tell | R |
All eyes be muffled or a hundred swords | H |
Will storm his heart Love's fev'rous citadel | R |
For him those chambers held barbarian hordes | H |
Hyena foemen and hot blooded lords | H |
Whose very dogs would execrations howl | R |
Against his lineage not one breast affords | H |
Him any mercy in that mansion foul | R |
Save one old beldame weak in body and in soul | R |
- | |
Ah happy chance the aged creature came | B2 |
Shuffling along with ivory headed wand | T |
To where he stood hid from the torch's flame | B2 |
Behind a broad half pillar far beyond | T |
The sound of merriment and chorus bland | T |
He startled her but soon she knew his face | H |
And grasp'd his fingers in her palsied hand | T |
Saying Mercy Porphyro hie thee from this place | H |
They are all here to night the whole blood thirsty race | H |
- | |
Get hence get hence there's dwarfish Hildebrand | T |
He had a fever late and in the fit | T |
He cursed thee and thine both house and land | T |
Then there's that old Lord Maurice not a whit | T |
More tame for his gray hairs Alas me flit | T |
Flit like a ghost away Ah Gossip dear | Z |
We're safe enough here in this arm chair sit | T |
And tell me how Good Saints not here not here | Z |
Follow me child or else these stones will be thy bier | Z |
- | |
He follow'd through a lowly arched way | Q |
Brushing the cobwebs with his lofty plume | C2 |
And as she mutter'd Well a well a day | Q |
He found him in a little moonlight room | C2 |
Pale lattic'd chill and silent as a tomb | C2 |
Now tell me where is Madeline said he | P |
O tell me Angela by the holy loom | C2 |
Which none but secret sisterhood may see | P |
When they St Agnes' wool are weaving piously | P |
- | |
St Agnes Ah it is St Agnes' Eve | L |
Yet men will murder upon holy days | H |
Thou must hold water in a witch's sieve | D2 |
And be liege lord of all the Elves and Fays | H |
To venture so it fills me with amaze | H |
To see thee Porphyro St Agnes' Eve | L |
God's help my lady fair the conjuror plays | H |
This very night good angels her deceive | L |
But let me laugh awhile I've mickle time to grieve | L |
- | |
Feebly she laugheth in the languid moon | A2 |
While Porphyro upon her face doth look | E2 |
Like puzzled urchin on an aged crone | A2 |
Who keepeth clos'd a wond'rous riddle book | E2 |
As spectacled she sits in chimney nook | E2 |
But soon his eyes grew brilliant when she told | T |
His lady's purpose and he scarce could brook | E2 |
Tears at the thought of those enchantments cold | T |
And Madeline asleep in lap of legends old | T |
- | |
Sudden a thought came like a full blown rose | H |
Flushing his brow and in his pained heart | T |
Made purple riot then doth he propose | H |
A stratagem that makes the beldame start | T |
A cruel man and impious thou art | T |
Sweet lady let her pray and sleep and dream | F2 |
Alone with her good angels far apart | T |
From wicked men like thee Go go I deem | F2 |
Thou canst not surely be the same that thou didst seem | F2 |
- | |
I will not harm her by all saints I swear | Z |
Quoth Porphyro O may I ne'er find grace | H |
When my weak voice shall whisper its last prayer | Z |
If one of her soft ringlets I displace | H |
Or look with ruffian passion in her face | H |
Good Angela believe me by these tears | H |
Or I will even in a moment's space | H |
Awake with horrid shout my foemen's ears | H |
And beard them though they be more fang'd than wolves and bears | H |
- | |
Ah why wilt thou affright a feeble soul | R |
A poor weak palsy stricken churchyard thing | G2 |
Whose passing bell may ere the midnight toll | R |
Whose prayers for thee each morn and evening | G2 |
Were never miss'd Thus plaining doth she bring | G2 |
A gentler speech from burning Porphyro | Z |
So woful and of such deep sorrowing | G2 |
That Angela gives promise she will do | T |
Whatever he shall wish betide her weal or woe | H2 |
- | |
Which was to lead him in close secrecy | H |
Even to Madeline's chamber and there hide | T |
Him in a closet of such privacy | H |
That he might see her beauty unespy'd | T |
And win perhaps that night a peerless bride | T |
While legion'd faeries pac'd the coverlet | T |
And pale enchantment held her sleepy ey'd | T |
Never on such a night have lovers met | T |
Since Merlin paid his Demon all the monstrous debt | T |
- | |
It shall be as thou wishest said the Dame | B2 |
All cates and dainties shall be stored there | Z |
Quickly on this feast night by the tambour frame | B2 |
Her own lute thou wilt see no time to spare | Z |
For I am slow and feeble and scarce dare | Z |
On such a catering trust my dizzy head | T |
Wait here my child with patience kneel in prayer | Z |
The while Ah thou must needs the lady wed | T |
Or may I never leave my grave among the dead | T |
- | |
So saying she hobbled off with busy fear | Z |
The lover's endless minutes slowly pass'd | T |
The dame return'd and whisper'd in his ear | Z |
To follow her with aged eyes aghast | T |
From fright of dim espial Safe at last | T |
Through many a dusky gallery they gain | A2 |
The maiden's chamber silken hush'd and chaste | T |
Where Porphyro took covert pleas'd amain | A2 |
His poor guide hurried back with agues in her brain | A2 |
- | |
Her falt'ring hand upon the balustrade | T |
Old Angela was feeling for the stair | Z |
When Madeline St Agnes' charmed maid | T |
Rose like a mission'd spirit unaware | Z |
With silver taper's light and pious care | Z |
She turn'd and down the aged gossip led | T |
To a safe level matting Now prepare | Z |
Young Porphyro for gazing on that bed | T |
She comes she comes again like ring dove fray'd and fled | T |
- | |
Out went the taper as she hurried in | A2 |
Its little smoke in pallid moonshine died | T |
She clos'd the door she panted all akin | A2 |
To spirits of the air and visions wide | T |
No uttered syllable or woe betide | T |
But to her heart her heart was voluble | R |
Paining with eloquence her balmy side | T |
As though a tongueless nightingale should swell | R |
Her throat in vain and die heart stifled in her dell | R |
- | |
A casement high and triple arch'd there was | H |
All garlanded with carven imag'ries | H |
Of fruits and flowers and bunches of knot grass | H |
And diamonded with panes of quaint device | H |
Innumerable of stains and splendid dyes | H |
As are the tiger moth's deep damask'd wings | H |
And in the midst 'mong thousand heraldries | H |
And twilight saints and dim emblazonings | H |
A shielded scutcheon blush'd with blood of queens and kings | H |
- | |
Full on this casement shone the wintry moon | A2 |
And threw warm gules on Madeline's fair breast | T |
As down she knelt for heaven's grace and boon | A2 |
Rose bloom fell on her hands together prest | T |
And on her silver cross soft amethyst | T |
And on her hair a glory like a saint | T |
She seem'd a splendid angel newly drest | T |
Save wings for heaven Porphyro grew faint | T |
She knelt so pure a thing so free from mortal taint | T |
- | |
Anon his heart revives her vespers done | A2 |
Of all its wreathed pearls her hair she frees | H |
Unclasps her warmed jewels one by one | A2 |
Loosens her fragrant boddice by degrees | H |
Her rich attire creeps rustling to her knees | H |
Half hidden like a mermaid in sea weed | T |
Pensive awhile she dreams awake and sees | H |
In fancy fair St Agnes in her bed | T |
But dares not look behind or all the charm is fled | T |
- | |
Soon trembling in her soft and chilly nest | T |
In sort of wakeful swoon perplex'd she lay | Q |
Until the poppied warmth of sleep oppress'd | T |
Her soothed limbs and soul fatigued away | Q |
Flown like a thought until the morrow day | Q |
Blissfully haven'd both from joy and pain | A2 |
Clasp'd like a missal where swart Paynims pray | Q |
Blinded alike from sunshine and from rain | A2 |
As though a rose should shut and be a bud again | A2 |
- | |
Stol'n to this paradise and so entranced | T |
Porphyro gaz'd upon her empty dress | H |
And listen'd to her breathing if it chanced | T |
To wake into a slumberous tenderness | H |
Which when he heard that minute did he bless | H |
And breath'd himself then from the closet crept | T |
Noiseless as fear in a wide wilderness | H |
And over the hush'd carpet silent stept | T |
And 'tween the curtains peep'd where lo how fast she slept | T |
- | |
Then by the bed side where the faded moon | A2 |
Made a dim silver twilight soft he set | T |
A table and half anguish'd threw thereon | A2 |
A cloth of woven crimson gold and jet | T |
O for some drowsy Morphean amulet | T |
The boisterous midnight festive clarion | A2 |
The kettle drum and far heard clarinet | T |
Affray his ears though but in dying tone | A2 |
The hall door shuts again and all the noise is gone | A2 |
- | |
And still she slept an azure lidded sleep | I2 |
In blanched linen smooth and lavender'd | T |
While he forth from the closet brought a heap | I2 |
Of candied apple quince and plum and gourd | T |
With jellies soother than the creamy curd | T |
And lucent syrops tinct with cinnamon | A2 |
Manna and dates in argosy transferr'd | T |
From Fez and spiced dainties every one | A2 |
From silken Samarcand to cedar'd Lebanon | A2 |
- | |
These delicates he heap'd with glowing hand | T |
On golden dishes and in baskets bright | T |
Of wreathed silver sumptuous they stand | T |
In the retired quiet of the night | T |
Filling the chilly room with perfume light | T |
And now my love my seraph fair awake | G2 |
Thou art my heaven and I thine eremite | T |
Open thine eyes for meek St Agnes' sake | G2 |
Or I shall drowse beside thee so my soul doth ache | G2 |
- | |
Thus whispering his warm unnerved arm | J2 |
Sank in her pillow Shaded was her dream | F2 |
By the dusk curtains 'twas a midnight charm | J2 |
Impossible to melt as iced stream | F2 |
The lustrous salvers in the moonlight gleam | F2 |
Broad golden fringe upon the carpet lies | H |
It seem'd he never never could redeem | F2 |
From such a stedfast spell his lady's eyes | H |
So mus'd awhile entoil'd in woofed phantasies | H |
- | |
Awakening up he took her hollow lute | T |
Tumultuous and in chords that tenderest be | H |
He play'd an ancient ditty long since mute | T |
In Provence call'd La belle dame sans mercy | H |
Close to her ear touching the melody | H |
Wherewith disturb'd she utter'd a soft moan | A2 |
He ceas'd she panted quick and suddenly | H |
Her blue affrayed eyes wide open shone | A2 |
Upon his knees he sank pale as smooth sculptured stone | A2 |
- | |
Her eyes were open but she still beheld | H |
Now wide awake the vision of her sleep | I2 |
There was a painful change that nigh expell'd | H |
The blisses of her dream so pure and deep | I2 |
At which fair Madeline began to weep | I2 |
And moan forth witless words with many a sigh | K2 |
While still her gaze on Porphyro would keep | I2 |
Who knelt with joined hands and piteous eye | K2 |
Fearing to move or speak she look'd so dreamingly | H |
- | |
Ah Porphyro said she but even now | A2 |
Thy voice was at sweet tremble in mine ear | Z |
Made tuneable with every sweetest vow | A2 |
And those sad eyes were spiritual and clear | Z |
How chang'd thou art how pallid chill and drear | Z |
Give me that voice again my Porphyro | Z |
Those looks immortal those complainings dear | Z |
Oh leave me not in this eternal woe | H2 |
For if thy diest my Love I know not where to go | H2 |
- | |
Beyond a mortal man impassion'd far | Z |
At these voluptuous accents he arose | H |
Ethereal flush'd and like a throbbing star | Z |
Seen mid the sapphire heaven's deep repose | H |
Into her dream he melted as the rose | H |
Blendeth its odour with the violet | H |
Solution sweet meantime the frost wind blows | H |
Like Love's alarum pattering the sharp sleet | H |
Against the window panes St Agnes' moon hath set | H |
- | |
'Tis dark quick pattereth the flaw blown sleet | H |
This is no dream my bride my Madeline | A2 |
'Tis dark the iced gusts still rave and beat | H |
No dream alas alas and woe is mine | A2 |
Porphyro will leave me here to fade and pine | A2 |
Cruel what traitor could thee hither bring | G2 |
I curse not for my heart is lost in thine | A2 |
Though thou forsakest a deceived thing | G2 |
A dove forlorn and lost with sick unpruned wing | G2 |
- | |
My Madeline sweet dreamer lovely bride | H |
Say may I be for aye thy vassal blest | H |
Thy beauty's shield heart shap'd and vermeil dyed | H |
Ah silver shrine here will I take my rest | H |
After so many hours of toil and quest | H |
A famish'd pilgrim sav'd by miracle | H |
Though I have found I will not rob thy nest | H |
Saving of thy sweet self if thou think'st well | H |
To trust fair Madeline to no rude infidel | H |
- | |
Hark 'tis an elfin storm from faery land | H |
Of haggard seeming but a boon indeed | H |
Arise arise the morning is at hand | H |
The bloated wassaillers will never heed | H |
Let us away my love with happy speed | H |
There are no ears to hear or eyes to see | H |
Drown'd all in Rhenish and the sleepy mead | H |
Awake arise my love and fearless be | H |
For o'er the southern moors I have a home for thee | H |
- | |
She hurried at his words beset with fears | H |
For there were sleeping dragons all around | H |
At glaring watch perhaps with ready spears | H |
Down the wide stairs a darkling way they found | H |
In all the house was heard no human sound | H |
A chain droop'd lamp was flickering by each door | Z |
The arras rich with horseman hawk and hound | H |
Flutter'd in the besieging wind's uproar | Z |
And the long carpets rose along the gusty floor | Z |
- | |
They glide like phantoms into the wide hall | H |
Like phantoms to the iron porch they glide | H |
Where lay the Porter in uneasy sprawl | H |
With a huge empty flaggon by his side | H |
The wakeful bloodhound rose and shook his hide | H |
But his sagacious eye an inmate owns | H |
By one and one the bolts full easy slide | H |
The chains lie silent on the footworn stones | H |
The key turns and the door upon its hinges groans | H |
- | |
And they are gone aye ages long ago | H2 |
These lovers fled away into the storm | L2 |
That night the Baron dreamt of many a woe | H2 |
And all his warrior guests with shade and form | L2 |
Of witch and demon and large coffin worm | M2 |
Were long be nightmar'd Angela the old | H |
Died palsy twitch'd with meagre face deform | L2 |
The Beadsman after thousand aves told | H |
For aye unsought for slept among his ashes cold | H |
John Keats
(1)
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