Mary - A Ballad Poem Rhyme Scheme

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Author Note The story of the following ballad was related to me when a school boy as a fact which had really happened in the North of England I have	A
adopted the metre of Mr Lewis's Alonzo and Imogene a poem deservedly	B
popular	C
	-
	-
I	-
	-
Who is she the poor Maniac whose wildly fix'd eyes	D
Seem a heart overcharged to express	E
She weeps not yet often and deeply she sighs	D
She never complains but her silence implies	D
The composure of settled distress	E
	-
	-
II	-
	-
No aid no compassion the Maniac will seek	F
Cold and hunger awake not her care	G
Thro' her rags do the winds of the winter blow bleak	F
On her poor withered bosom half bare and her cheek	F
Has the deathy pale hue of despair	G
	-
	-
III	-
	-
Yet chearful and happy nor distant the day	H
Poor Mary the Maniac has been	I
The Traveller remembers who journeyed this way	H
No damsel so lovely no damsel so gay	H
As Mary the Maid of the Inn	I
	-
	-
IV	A
	-
Her chearful address fill'd the guests with delight	J
As she welcomed them in with a smile	K
Her heart was a stranger to childish affright	J
And Mary would walk by the Abbey at night	J
When the wind whistled down the dark aisle	K
	-
	-
V	A
	-
She loved and young Richard had settled the day	J
And she hoped to be happy for life	A
But Richard was idle and worthless and they	J
Who knew him would pity poor Mary and say	J
That she was too good for his wife	A
	-
	-
VI	A
	-
'Twas in autumn and stormy and dark was the night	J
And fast were the windows and door	L
Two guests sat enjoying the fire that burnt bright	J
And smoking in silence with tranquil delight	J
They listen'd to hear the wind roar	L
	-
	-
VII	A
	-
quot Tis pleasant quot cried one quot seated by the fire side	J
quot To hear the wind whistle without quot	J
quot A fine night for the Abbey quot his comrade replied	J
quot Methinks a man's courage would now be well tried	J
quot Who should wander the ruins about	J
	-
	-
VIII	A
	-
quot I myself like a school boy should tremble to hear	M
quot The hoarse ivy shake over my head	J
quot And could fancy I saw half persuaded by fear	N
quot Some ugly old Abbot's white spirit appear	N
quot For this wind might awaken the dead quot	J
	-
	-
IX	J
	-
quot I'll wager a dinner quot the other one cried	J
quot That Mary would venture there now quot	J
quot Then wager and lose quot with a sneer he replied	J
quot I'll warrant she'd fancy a ghost by her side	J
quot And faint if she saw a white cow quot	J
	-
	-
X	J
	-
quot Will Mary this charge on her courage allow quot	J
His companion exclaim'd with a smile	K
quot I shall win for I know she will venture there now	O
quot And earn a new bonnet by bringing a bough	O
quot From the elder that grows in the aisle quot	J
	-
	-
XI	J
	-
With fearless good humour did Mary comply	A
And her way to the Abbey she bent	J
The night it was dark and the wind it was high	A
And as hollowly howling it swept thro' the sky	A
She shiver'd with cold as she went	J
	-
	-
XII	J
	-
O'er the path so well known still proceeded the Maid	J
Where the Abbey rose dim on the sight	J
Thro' the gate way she entered she felt not afraid	J
Yet the ruins were lonely and wild and their shade	J
Seem'd to deepen the gloom of the night	J
	-
	-
XIII	J
	-
All around her was silent save when the rude blast	J
Howl'd dismally round the old pile	K
Over weed cover'd fragments still fearless she past	J
And arrived in the innermost ruin at last	J
Where the elder tree grew in the aisle	K
	-
	-
XIV	A
	-
Well pleas'd did she reach it and quickly drew near	N
And hastily gather'd the bough	O
When the sound of a voice seem'd to rise on her ear	M
She paus'd and she listen'd all eager to hear	M
Aud her heart panted fearfully now	O
	-
	-
XV	A
	-
The wind blew the hoarse ivy shook over her head	J
She listen'd nought else could she hear	M
The wind ceas'd her heart sunk in her bosom with dread	J
For she heard in the ruins distinctly the tread	J
Of footsteps approaching her near	N
	-
	-
XVI	A
	-
Behind a wide column half breathless with fear	N
She crept to conceal herself there	G
That instant the moon o'er a dark cloud shone clear	N
And she saw in the moon light two ruffians appear	N
And between them a corpse did they bear	G
	-
	-
XVII	A
	-
Then Mary could feel her heart blood curdle cold	J
Again the rough wind hurried by	A
It blew off the hat of the one and behold	J
Even close to the feet of poor Mary it roll'd	J
She felt and expected to die	A
	-
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XVIII	A
	-
quot Curse the hat quot he exclaims quot Nay come on and first hide	J
quot The dead body quot his comrade replies	J
She beheld them in safety pass on by her side	J
She seizes the hat fear her courage supplied	J
And fast thro' the Abbey she flies	J
	-
	-
XIX	J
	-
She ran with wild speed she rush'd in at the door	L
She gazed horribly eager around	J
Then her limbs could support their faint burthen no more	L
And exhausted and breathless she sunk on the floor	L
Unable to utter a sound	J
	-
	-
XX	J
	-
Ere yet her pale lips could the story impart	J
For a moment the hat met her view	A
Her eyes from that object convulsively start	J
For oh God what cold horror then thrill'd thro' her heart	J
When the name of her Richard she knew	A
	-
	-
XXI	J
	-
Where the old Abbey stands on the common hard by	A
His gibbet is now to be seen	P
Not far from the road it engages the eye	A
The Traveller beholds it and thinks with a sigh	A
Of poor Mary the Maid of the Inn	I

Robert Southey

Mary - A Ballad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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