Journey To The Dead Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEDAFGHIJKLMNJAOP QRSTPUAJ JVWXBYZA2B2C2D2E2 F2G2H2I2D2 J2F2DF2K2L2M2SF2N2O2 D2P2Q2R2D2O2S2TT2F2H 2U2 L2OTBF2TTV2TTTW2DX2Y 2Z2A3TTB3C3D3E3TWF3T DXWT G3A3H3C3I3C2J3XT K3ATO2TL3 TO2TDTI3TXM3TY2DAC2N 3T O3C3YDATTH3X2JTX2X2P 3I3TJX2ABQ3X2X2E2X2X 2X2X2X2TX2R3TF2I3S3T 3D3U3 V3YC2TW3X3 Y3TX2A3F2 Z3X2T XX2C2ADA4X2B4I3X2B4 X3AC4TTD4OX2TC4TS3JR 3E4TX2JX2X2JX2X2C4D3 TC4S3X2F4TX2TG4X2H4V 3X2T TX2JJ I4T E2JC4C4TX2JI3J4C4TT C3T UC4JTK4L4UTM4UQ3C4C4 T Q3C4N4F2C4TC4TX2TTA3 C4TC4C4C4X2UJX2C4C4X S3X2X2N4X2TTH2Forth from the East up the ascent of Heaven | A |
Day drove his courser with the Shining Mane | B |
And in Valhalla from his gable perch | C |
The golden crested Cock began to crow | D |
Hereafter in the blackest dead of night | E |
With shrill and dismal cries that Bird shall crow | D |
Warning the Gods that foes draw nigh to Heaven | A |
But now he crew at dawn a cheerful note | F |
To wake the Gods and Heroes to their tasks | G |
And all the Gods and all the Heroes woke | H |
And from their beds the Heroes rose and donn'd | I |
Their arms and led their horses from the stall | J |
And mounted them and in Valhalla's court | K |
Were rang'd and then the daily fray began | L |
And all day long they there are hack'd and hewn | M |
'Mid dust and groans and limbs lopp'd off and blood | N |
But all at night return to Odin's hall | J |
Woundless and fresh such lot is theirs in Heaven | A |
And the Valkyries on their steeds went forth | O |
Toward Earth and fights of men and at their side | P |
Skulda the youngest of the Nornies rode | Q |
And over Bifrost where is Heimdall's watch | R |
Past Midgard Fortress down to Earth they came | S |
There through some battle field where men fall fast | T |
Their horses fetlock deep in blood they ride | P |
And pick the bravest warriors out for death | U |
Whom they bring back with them at night to Heaven | A |
To glad the Gods and feast in Odin's hall | J |
- | |
But the Gods went not now as otherwhile | J |
Into the Tilt Yard where the Heroes fought | V |
To feast their eyes with looking on the fray | W |
Nor did they to their Judgement Place repair | X |
By the ash Igdrasil in Ida's plain | B |
Where they hold council and give laws for men | Y |
But they went Odin first the rest behind | Z |
To the hall Gladheim which is built of gold | A2 |
Where are in circle rang'd twelve golden chairs | B2 |
And in the midst one higher Odin's throne | C2 |
There all the Gods in silence sate them down | D2 |
And thus the Father of the Ages spake | E2 |
- | |
Go quickly Gods bring wood to the seashore | F2 |
With all which it beseems the dead to have | G2 |
And make a funeral pile on Balder's ship | H2 |
On the twelfth day the Gods shall burn his corpse | I2 |
But Hermod thou take Sleipner and ride down | D2 |
To Hela's kingdom to ask Balder back ' | - |
- | |
So said he and the Gods arose and took | J2 |
Axes and ropes and at their head came Thor | F2 |
Shouldering his Hammer which the Giants know | D |
Forth wended they and drove their steeds before | F2 |
And up the dewy mountain tracks they far'd | K2 |
To the dark forests in the early dawn | L2 |
And up and down and side and slant they roam'd | M2 |
And from the glens all day an echo came | S |
Of crashing falls for with his hammer Thor | F2 |
Smote 'mid the rocks the lichen bearded pines | N2 |
And burst their roots while to their tops the Gods | O2 |
Made fast the woven ropes and hal'd them down | D2 |
And lopp'd their boughs and clove them on the sward | P2 |
And bound the logs behind their steeds to draw | Q2 |
And drove them homeward and the snorting steeds | R2 |
Went straining through the crackling brushwood down | D2 |
And by the darkling forest paths the Gods | O2 |
Follow'd and on their shoulders carried boughs | S2 |
And they came out upon the plain and pass'd | T |
Asgard and led their horses to the beach | T2 |
And loos'd them of their loads on the seashore | F2 |
And rang'd the wood in stacks by Balder's ship | H2 |
And every God went home to his own house | U2 |
- | |
But when the Gods were to the forest gone | L2 |
Hermod led Sleipner from Valhalla forth | O |
And saddled him before that Sleipner brook'd | T |
No meaner hand than Odin's on his mane | B |
On his broad back no lesser rider bore | F2 |
Yet docile now he stood at Hermod's side | T |
Arching his neck and glad to be bestrode | T |
Knowing the God they went to seek how dear | V2 |
But Hermod mounted him and sadly far'd | T |
In silence up the dark untravell'd road | T |
Which branches from the north of Heaven and went | T |
All day and Daylight wan'd and Night came on | W2 |
And all that night he rode and journey'd so | D |
Nine days nine nights towards the northern ice | X2 |
Through valleys deep engulph'd by roaring streams | Y2 |
And on the tenth morn ho beheld the bridge | Z2 |
Which spans with golden arches Giall's stream | A3 |
And on the bridge a Damsel watching arm'd | T |
In the strait passage at the further end | T |
Where the road issues between walling rocks | B3 |
Scant space that Warder left for passers by | C3 |
But as when cowherds in October drive | D3 |
Their kine across a snowy mountain pass | E3 |
To winter pasture on the southern side | T |
And on the ridge a wagon chokes the way | W |
Wedg'd in the snow then painfully the hinds | F3 |
With goad and shouting urge their cattle past | T |
Plunging through deep untrodden banks of snow | D |
To right and left and warm steam fills the air | X |
So on the bridge that Damsel block'd the way | W |
And question'd Hermod as he came and said | T |
- | |
'Who art thou on thy black and fiery horse | G3 |
Under whose hoofs the bridge o'er Giall's stream | A3 |
Rumbles and shakes Tell me thy race and home | H3 |
But yestermorn five troops of dead pass'd by | C3 |
Bound on their way below to Hela's realm | I3 |
Nor shook the bridge so much as thou alone | C2 |
And thou hast flesh and colour on thy cheeks | J3 |
Like men who live and draw the vital air | X |
Nor look'st thou pale and wan like men deceas'd | T |
Souls bound below my daily passers here ' | - |
- | |
And the fleet footed Hermod answer'd her | K3 |
'O Damsel Hermod am I call'd the son | A |
Of Odin and my high roof'd house is built | T |
Far hence in Asgard in the City of Gods | O2 |
And Sleipner Odin's horse is this I ride | T |
And I come sent this road on Balder's track | L3 |
Say then if he hath cross'd thy bridge or no ' | - |
- | |
He spake the Warder of the bridge replied | T |
'O Hermod rarely do the feet of Gods | O2 |
Or of the horses of the Gods resound | T |
Upon my bridge and when they cross I know | D |
Balder hath gone this way and ta'en the road | T |
Below there to the north toward Hela's realm | I3 |
From here the cold white mist can be discern'd | T |
Not lit with sun but through the darksome air | X |
By the dim vapour blotted light of stars | M3 |
Which hangs over the ice where lies the road | T |
For in that ice are lost those northern streams | Y2 |
Freezing and ridging in their onward flow | D |
Which from the fountain of Vergelmer run | A |
The spring that bubbles up by Hela's throne | C2 |
There are the joyless seats the haunt of ghosts | N3 |
Hela's pale swarms and there was Balder bound | T |
Ride on pass free but he by this is there ' | - |
- | |
She spake and stepp'd aside and left him room | O3 |
And Hermod greeted her and gallop'd by | C3 |
Across the bridge then she took post again | Y |
But northward Hermod rode the way below | D |
And o'er a darksome tract which knows no sun | A |
But by the blotted light of stars he far'd | T |
And he came down to Ocean's northern strand | T |
At the drear ice beyond the Giants' home | H3 |
Thence on he journey'd o'er the fields of ice | X2 |
Still north until he met a stretching wall | J |
Barring his way and in the wall a grate | T |
Then he dismounted and drew tight the girths | X2 |
On the smooth ice of Sleipner Odin's horse | X2 |
And made him leap the grate and came within | P3 |
And he beheld spread round him Hela's realm | I3 |
The plains of Niflheim where dwell the dead | T |
And heard the thunder of the streams of Hell | J |
For near the wall the river of Roaring flows | X2 |
Outmost the others near the centre run | A |
The Storm the Abyss the Howling and the Pain | B |
Those flow by Hela's throne and near their spring | Q3 |
And from the dark flock'd up the shadowy tribes | X2 |
And as the swallows crowd the bulrush beds | X2 |
Of some clear river issuing from a lake | E2 |
On autumn days before they cross the sea | X2 |
And to each bulrush crest a swallow hangs | X2 |
Swinging and others skim the river streams | X2 |
And their quick twittering fills the banks and shores | X2 |
So around Hermod swarm'd the twittering ghosts | X2 |
Women and infants and young men who died | T |
Too soon for fame with white ungraven shields | X2 |
And old men known to Glory but their star | R3 |
Betray'd them and of wasting age they died | T |
Not wounds yet dying they their armour wore | F2 |
And now have chief regard in Hela's realm | I3 |
Behind flock'd wrangling up a piteous crew | S3 |
Greeted of none disfeatur'd and forlorn | T3 |
Cowards who were in sloughs interr'd alive | D3 |
And round them still the wattled hurdles hung | U3 |
- | |
Wherewith they stamp'd them down and trod them deep | V3 |
To hide their shameful memory from men | Y |
But all he pass'd unhail'd and reach'd the throne | C2 |
Of Hela and saw near it Balder crown'd | T |
And Hela sat thereon with countenance stern | W3 |
And thus bespake him first the solemn Queen | X3 |
- | |
'Unhappy how hast thou endur'd to leave | Y3 |
The light and journey to the cheerless land | T |
Where idly flit about the feeble shades | X2 |
How didst thou cross the bridge o'er Giall's stream | A3 |
Being alive and come to Ocean's shore | F2 |
Or how o'erleap the grate that bars the wall ' | - |
- | |
She spake but down off Sleipner Hermod sprang | Z3 |
And fell before her feet and clasp'd her knees | X2 |
And spake and mild entreated her and said | T |
- | |
'O Hela wherefore should the Gods declare | X |
Their errands to each other or the ways | X2 |
They go the errand and the way is known | C2 |
Thou know'st thou know'st what grief we have in Heaven | A |
For Balder whom thou hold'st by right below | D |
Restore him for what part fulfils he here | A4 |
Shall he shed cheer over the cheerless seats | X2 |
And touch the apathetic ghosts with joy | B4 |
Not for such end O Queen thou hold'st thy realm | I3 |
For Heaven was Balder born the City of Gods | X2 |
And Heroes where they live in light and joy | B4 |
Thither restore him for his place is there ' | - |
- | |
He spoke and grave replied the solemn Queen | X3 |
'Hermod for he thou art thou Son of Heaven | A |
A strange unlikely errand sure is thine | C4 |
Do the Gods send to me to make them blest | T |
Small bliss my race hath of the Gods obtain'd | T |
Three mighty children to my Father Lok | D4 |
Did Angerbode the Giantess bring forth | O |
Fenris the Wolf the Serpent huge and Me | X2 |
Of these the Serpent in the sea ye cast | T |
Who since in your despite hath wax'd amain | C4 |
And now with gleaming ring enfolds the world | T |
Me on this cheerless nether world ye threw | S3 |
And gave me nine unlighted realms to rule | J |
While on his island in the lake afar | R3 |
Made fast to the bor'd crag by wile not strength | E4 |
Subdu'd with limber chains lives Fenris bound | T |
Lok still subsists in Heaven our Father wise | X2 |
Your mate though loath'd and feasts in Odin's hall | J |
But him too foes await and netted snares | X2 |
And in a cave a bed of needle rocks | X2 |
And o'er his visage serpents dropping gall | J |
Yet he shall one day rise and burst his bonds | X2 |
And with himself set us his offspring free | X2 |
When he guides Muspel's children to their bourne | C4 |
Till then in peril or in pain we live | D3 |
Wrought by the Gods and ask the Gods our aid | T |
Howbeit we abide our day till then | C4 |
We do not as some feebler haters do | S3 |
Seek to afflict our foes with petty pangs | X2 |
Helpless to better us or ruin them | F4 |
Come then if Balder was so dear belov'd | T |
And this is true and such a loss is Heaven's | X2 |
Hear how to Heaven may Balder be restor'd | T |
Show me through all the world the signs of grief | G4 |
Fails but one thing to grieve here Balder stops | X2 |
Let all that lives and moves upon the earth | H4 |
Weep him and all that is without life weep | V3 |
Let Gods men brutes beweep him plants and stones | X2 |
So shall I know the lost was dear indeed | T |
And bend my heart and give him back to Heaven ' | - |
- | |
She spake and Hermod answer'd her and said | T |
'Hela such as thou say'st the terms shall be | X2 |
But come declare me this and truly tell | J |
May I ere I depart bid Balder hail | J |
Or is it here withheld to greet the dead ' | - |
- | |
He spake and straightway Hela answer'd him | I4 |
'Hermod greet Balder if thou wilt and hold | T |
Converse his speech remains though he he dead ' | - |
- | |
And straight to Balder Hermod turn'd and spake | E2 |
'Even in the abode of Death O Balder hail | J |
Thou hear'st if hearing like as speech is thine | C4 |
The terms of thy releasement hence to Heaven | C4 |
Fear nothing but that all shall be fulfill'd | T |
For not unmindful of thee are the Gods | X2 |
Who see the light and blest in Asgard dwell | J |
Even here they seek thee out in Hela's realm | I3 |
And sure of all the happiest far art thou | J4 |
Who ever have been known in Earth or Heaven | C4 |
Alive thou wert of Gods the most belov'd | T |
And now thou sittest crown'd by Hela's side | T |
Here and hast honour among all the dead ' | - |
- | |
He spake and Balder utter'd him reply | C3 |
But feebly as a voice far off he said | T |
- | |
'Hermod the nimble gild me not my death | U |
Better to live a slave a captur'd man | C4 |
Who scatters rushes in a master's ball | J |
Than be a crown'd king here and rule the dead | T |
And now I count not of these terms as safe | K4 |
To be fulfill'd nor my return as sure | L4 |
Though I be lov'd and many mourn my death | U |
For double minded ever was the seed | T |
Of Lok and double are the gifts they give | M4 |
Howbeit report thy message and therewith | U |
To Odin to my Father take this ring | Q3 |
Memorial of me whether sav'd or no | C4 |
And tell the Heaven born Gods how thou hast seen | C4 |
Me sitting here below by Hela s side | T |
Crown'd having honour among all the dead ' | - |
- | |
He spake and rais'd his hand and gave the ring | Q3 |
And with inscrutable regard the Queen | C4 |
Of Hell beheld them and the ghosts stood dumb | N4 |
But Hermod took the ring and yet once more | F2 |
Kneel'd and did homage to the solemn Queen | C4 |
Then mounted Sleipner and set forth to ride | T |
Back through the astonish'd tribes of dead to Heaven | C4 |
And to the wall he came and found the grate | T |
Lifted and issued on the fields of ice | X2 |
And o'er the ice he far'd to Ocean's strand | T |
And up from thence a wet and misty road | T |
To the arm'd Damsel's bridge and Giall's stream | A3 |
Worse was that way to go than to return | C4 |
For him for others all return is barr'd | T |
Nine days he took to go two to return | C4 |
And on the twelfth morn saw the light of Heaven | C4 |
And as a traveller in the early dawn | C4 |
To the steep edge of some great valley comes | X2 |
Through which a river flows and sees beneath | U |
Clouds of white rolling vapours fill the vale | J |
But o'er them on the farther slope descries | X2 |
Vineyards and crofts and pastures bright with sun | C4 |
So Hermod o'er the fog between saw Heaven | C4 |
And Sleipner snorted for he smelt the air | X |
Of Heaven and mightily as wing'd he flew | S3 |
And Hermod saw the towers of Asgard rise | X2 |
And he drew near and heard no living voice | X2 |
In Asgard and the golden halls were dumb | N4 |
Then Hermod knew what labour held the Gods | X2 |
And through the empty streets he rode and pass'd | T |
Under the gate house to the sands and found | T |
The Gods on the seashore by Balder's ship | H2 |
Matthew Arnold
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