Oswald, The Minnesinger Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A B CDAAEFGHAIJKL AAMNNNMOOPPPM QQRSSSRTTUUUR VVWXXTWYYZZZW A2A2AB2B2B2AC2C2AAAA D2D2A2E2E2E2A2PPF2F2 F2A2 G2G2H2I2I2I2H2J2J2MM MH2 K2K2L2M2M2M2L2PPMMML 2 N2N2O2PPPO2P2P2AAAO2 L2L2Q2R2R2R2Q2PPPPPQ 2 MMS2T2T2T2S2U2U2PPPS 2 PPJ2I2I2I2J2V2V2NNNJ 2 AAWW2W2W2WQ2Q2AAAW| A Legend of Schloss Forst near Meran | A |
| - | |
| - | |
| PROLOGUE | B |
| - | |
| Oswald von Wolkenstein the Last of the Minnesingers loved a beautiful | C |
| woman named Sabina who proved faithless to him thereby causing the | D |
| poet great mental suffering He avenged his wrongs by writing poems on | A |
| her coquetry and cruelty Years later Sabina who had never forgiven | A |
| him his satirical verses became the favorite of the Tyrolese prince | E |
| Frederick of the Empty Purse who also hated Oswald for opposing his | F |
| political plans Accordingly Sabina plotted with her lover to induce | G |
| the poet to come to her under a pretence of renewing their former love | H |
| To effect this she wrote him a letter expressing her undying affection | A |
| for him and begging him to meet her near Meran The plot was | I |
| successful and Oswald fell completely into their power By Frederick's | J |
| orders he was at once imprisoned in the dungeon of Schloss Forst and | K |
| subjected to tortures which crippled him for the rest of his life | L |
| - | |
| Oswald von Wolkenstein | A |
| Last of a gifted line | A |
| Years have gone by since we parted in hate | M |
| What have they taught to me | N |
| This that all's naught to me | N |
| Save what you brought to me | N |
| Love and love's fate | M |
| Can you that love forget | O |
| Know that I love you yet | O |
| If you my passion share | P |
| Linger no longer there | P |
| Fearless to do and dare | P |
| Come ere too late | M |
| - | |
| Near the old Roman Road | Q |
| Up which the legions strode | Q |
| Where the first vine covered terraces rise | R |
| Stands a grim fortress tall | S |
| Which like a mountain wall | S |
| Though scarred by many a ball | S |
| Capture defies | R |
| 'Forst' is the name it bears | T |
| Brilliant the fame it wears | T |
| Thither our trysting place | U |
| Ride at your swiftest pace | U |
| Come to my fond embrace | U |
| My love your prize | R |
| - | |
| Who could such words suspect | V |
| Who could that call reject | V |
| Surely not Wolkenstein ardent of soul | W |
| Gone is the pain of years | X |
| Vanished his jealous fears | X |
| Smiles have replaced his tears | T |
| Lost self control | W |
| Slave to his passion's past | Y |
| Vows to the winds are cast | Y |
| Faithless she holds him still | Z |
| Absent she sways his will | Z |
| Traitress with subtle skill | Z |
| Plays she her role | W |
| - | |
| Where Etsch and Eisack meet | A2 |
| Mingling their waters fleet | A2 |
| Opens the valley that leads to Meran | A |
| As its red cliffs divide | B2 |
| Castles on either side | B2 |
| Each a strong chieftain's pride | B2 |
| Threaten his plan | A |
| Yet where the shadows sleep | C2 |
| Under each dungeon keep | C2 |
| Up through the land of wine | A |
| Blest with both palm and pine | A |
| Oswald von Wolkenstein | A |
| Rides to Terlan | A |
| - | |
| Here falls his gallant horse | D2 |
| Killed by his headlong course | D2 |
| Is it a warning to halt and retreat | A2 |
| Yet who when passion pleads | E2 |
| Ever such warning heeds | E2 |
| What though a dozen steeds | E2 |
| Drop at his feet | A2 |
| Hence while the peasants stare | P |
| Buys he their swiftest mare | P |
| And as the pavement rings | F2 |
| With the bright gold he flings | F2 |
| He to the saddle springs | F2 |
| Never so fleet | A2 |
| - | |
| Now lover pause for breath | G2 |
| Folly may here mean death | G2 |
| Yon gleam the lights of the capital's towers | H2 |
| Here let thy pace be slow | I2 |
| Frederick thy crafty foe | I2 |
| Plots there to lay thee low | I2 |
| Fearing thy powers | H2 |
| He of the empty purse | J2 |
| Stung by thy biting verse | J2 |
| Using a woman's hate | M |
| Offers a tempting bait | M |
| Both thy approach await | M |
| Counting the hours | H2 |
| - | |
| Dark is the starless night | K2 |
| Only one feeble light | K2 |
| Burns at the grating surmounting the door | L2 |
| Has his advance been heard | M2 |
| Was that a whispered word | M2 |
| What in that shadow stirred | M2 |
| Shall he explore | L2 |
| Fie when a prize so fair | P |
| Doubtless awaits him there | P |
| Shall he now hesitate | M |
| Here at Forst's very gate | M |
| Fearing to test his fate | M |
| No nevermore | L2 |
| - | |
| Hark 'tis a gruff command | N2 |
| Loosing an ambushed band | N2 |
| Seizing they drag him disarmed to the court | O2 |
| Brightly the torches flare | P |
| Flinging a ruddy glare | P |
| On a proud mocking pair | P |
| Watching the sport | O2 |
| God can this thing be true | P2 |
| She with this hostile crew | P2 |
| Faithless and shameless one | A |
| Thou hast my life undone | A |
| Poet thy race is run | A |
| Is her retort | O2 |
| - | |
| Barred is the iron door | L2 |
| On the damp dungeon floor | L2 |
| Oswald the Troubadour gifted and strong | Q2 |
| Lies in a loathsome cave | R2 |
| Dark as a living grave | R2 |
| No one to care or save | R2 |
| Silenced his song | Q2 |
| And while they leave him there | P |
| Crushed by profound despair | P |
| Princelet and paramour | P |
| Knowing their prey secure | P |
| Feeling their vengeance sure | P |
| Laugh loud and long | Q2 |
| - | |
| Who can in words relate | M |
| Oswald's unhappy fate | M |
| Left to these monsters whose hate was ablaze | S2 |
| Both on revenge were bent | T2 |
| He for a menace sent | T2 |
| She for the merriment | T2 |
| Caused by his lays | S2 |
| Dungeon and torture rack | U2 |
| These shall now pay thee back | U2 |
| Minstrel and poet rare | P |
| Rave in thy mad despair | P |
| And in that fetid lair | P |
| Finish thy days | S2 |
| - | |
| Vainly he pleads with her | P |
| No prayer succeeds with her | P |
| Useless the joys of their past to rehearse | J2 |
| For to increase his woe | I2 |
| Frederick his jealous foe | I2 |
| Shares in this cruel show | I2 |
| Fit for God's curse | J2 |
| Shameless and treacherous | V2 |
| Heartless and lecherous | V2 |
| Sabine with fiendish glee | N |
| Deaf to his every plea | N |
| Watches his agony | N |
| Quoting his verse | J2 |
| - | |
| Broken at last his chain | A |
| Ended the poet's pain | A |
| Freed by a ransom his relatives' dole | W |
| Humbled by grief and shame | W2 |
| Injured in name and fame | W2 |
| Drags he his crippled frame | W2 |
| Back through Tyrol | W |
| Then in a plaintive song | Q2 |
| Chanting his grievous wrong | Q2 |
| Oswald von Wolkenstein | A |
| Last of his gifted line | A |
| Dies in Schloss Hauenstein | A |
| God rest his soul | W |
John L. Stoddard
(1)
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Oswald, The Minnesinger is a poem by John L. Stoddard. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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