The Tournament Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCBC DEDE FGFG H GIGJ G K KG LLLL M L LCLC NLNL OCOC LPLP QRQR LSLS TSLS L L R LSLS R ULVL R LWLX R CLCL| Joust First | A |
| - | |
| - | |
| I | - |
| - | |
| Bright shone the lists blue bent the skies | B |
| And the knights still hurried amain | C |
| To the tournament under the ladies' eyes | B |
| Where the jousters were Heart and Brain | C |
| - | |
| II | - |
| - | |
| Flourished the trumpets entered Heart | D |
| A youth in crimson and gold | E |
| Flourished again Brain stood apart | D |
| Steel armored dark and cold | E |
| - | |
| III | - |
| - | |
| Heart's palfrey caracoled gayly round | F |
| Heart tra li ra'd merrily | G |
| But Brain sat still with never a sound | F |
| So cynical calm was he | G |
| - | |
| IV | H |
| - | |
| Heart's helmet crest bore favors three | G |
| From his lady's white hand caught | I |
| While Brain wore a plumeless casque not he | G |
| Or favor gave or sought | J |
| - | |
| V | G |
| - | |
| The herald blew Heart shot a glance | K |
| To find his lady's eye | - |
| But Brain gazed straight ahead his lance | K |
| To aim more faithfully | G |
| - | |
| VI | - |
| - | |
| They charged they struck both fell both bled | L |
| Brain rose again ungloved | L |
| Heart dying smiled and faintly said | L |
| My love to my beloved | L |
| - | |
| - | |
| Camp French Wilmington N C May | M |
| - | |
| - | |
| - | |
| Joust Second | L |
| - | |
| - | |
| I | - |
| - | |
| A many sweet eyes wept and wept | L |
| A many bosoms heaved again | C |
| A many dainty dead hopes slept | L |
| With yonder Heart knight prone o' the plain | C |
| - | |
| II | - |
| - | |
| Yet stars will burn through any mists | N |
| And the ladies' eyes through rains of fate | L |
| Still beamed upon the bloody lists | N |
| And lit the joust of Love and Hate | L |
| - | |
| III | - |
| - | |
| O strange or ere a trumpet blew | O |
| Or ere a challenge word was given | C |
| A knight leapt down i' the lists none knew | O |
| Whether he sprang from earth or heaven | C |
| - | |
| IV | - |
| - | |
| His cheek was soft as a lily bud | L |
| His grey eyes calmed his youth's alarm | P |
| Nor helm nor hauberk nor even a hood | L |
| Had he to shield his life from harm | P |
| - | |
| V | - |
| - | |
| No falchion from his baldric swung | Q |
| He wore a white rose in its place | R |
| No dagger at his girdle hung | Q |
| But only an olive branch for grace | R |
| - | |
| VI | - |
| - | |
| And Come thou poor mistaken knight | L |
| Cried Love unarmed yet dauntless there | S |
| Come on God pity thee I fight | L |
| Sans sword sans shield yet Hate beware | S |
| - | |
| VII | - |
| - | |
| Spurred furious Hate he foamed at mouth | T |
| His breath was hot upon the air | S |
| His breath scorched souls as a dry drought | L |
| Withers green trees and burns them bare | S |
| - | |
| VIII | - |
| - | |
| Straight drives he at his enemy | - |
| His hairy hands grip lance in rest | L |
| His lance it gleams full bitterly | - |
| God gleams true point on Love's bare breast | L |
| - | |
| IX | R |
| - | |
| Love's grey eyes glow with a heaven heat | L |
| Love lifts his hand in a saintly prayer | S |
| Look Hate hath fallen at his feet | L |
| Look Hate hath vanished in the air | S |
| - | |
| X | R |
| - | |
| Then all the throng looked kind on all | U |
| Eyes yearned lips kissed dumb souls were freed | L |
| Two magic maids' hands lifted a pall | V |
| And the dead knight Heart sprang on his steed | L |
| - | |
| XI | R |
| - | |
| Then Love cried Break me his lance each knight | L |
| Ye shall fight for blood athirst Fame no more | W |
| And the knights all doffed their mailed might | L |
| And dealt out dole on dole to the poor | X |
| - | |
| XII | R |
| - | |
| Then dove flights sanctified the plain | C |
| And hawk and sparrow shared a nest | L |
| And the great sea opened and swallowed Pain | C |
| And out of this water grave floated Rest | L |
Sidney Lanier
(1)
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