The Lady Of The Lake: Canto 5 (excerpt) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AAAABCAADDEFGGHHIIAA JJKKLLMMNNAO DDPPQQAARRAAFFSSNATT PPMMUUVW XXYYMMZZA2B2FFAAC2D2 AE2F2F2G2G2AAF2F2MMH 2H2I2I2J2HK2K2L2L2M2 A QQAAAAN2N2O2P2Q2R2R2 S2S2B2T2AAFFB2A O2O2U2V2W2W2VIAAQ2Q2 F2 Q2Q2F2F2AAAAAAA2B2FA AAAE2X2X2Y2Z2A3A3PPP A2B2J2J2J2J2J2J2J2B3 B3C3C3AAJ2J2D3A E2AMME3E3B2T2F3QSG2M MJ2J2AAAAFFAA J2

Have then thy wish he whistled shrillA
And he was answer'd from the hillA
Wild as the scream of the curlewA
From crag to crag the signal flewA
Instant through copse and heathB
Bonnets and spears and bended bowsC
On right on left above belowA
Sprung up at once the lurking foeA
From shingles gray their lances startD
The bracken bush sends forth the dartD
The rushes and the willow wandE
Are bristling into axe and brandF
And every tuft of broom gives lifeG
To plaided warrior arm'd for strifeG
That whistle garrison'd the glenH
At once with full five hundred menH
As if the yawning hill to heavenI
A subterranean host had givenI
Watching their leader's beck and willA
All silent there they stood and stillA
Like the loose crags whose threatening massJ
Lay tottering o'er the hollow passJ
As if an infant's touch could urgeK
Their headlong passage down the vergeK
With step and weapon forward flungL
Upon the mountain side they hungL
The Mountaineer cast glance of prideM
Along Benledi's living sideM
Then fix'd his eye and sable browN
Full on Fitz James How say'st thou nowN
These are Clan Alpine's warriors trueA
And Saxon I am Roderick Dhu XO
-
-
Fitz James was brave Though to his heartD
The life blood thrill'd with sudden startD
He mann'd himself with dauntless airP
Return'd the Chief his haughty stareP
His back against a rock he boreQ
And firmly placed his foot beforeQ
Come one come all this rock shall flyA
From its firm base as soon as IA
Sir Roderick mark'd and in his eyesR
Respect was mingled with surpriseR
And the stern joy which warriors feelA
In foemen worthy of their steelA
Short space he stood then waved his handF
Down sunk the disappearing bandF
Each warrior vanish'd where he stoodS
In broom or bracken heath or woodS
Sunk brand and spear and bended bowN
In osiers pale and copses lowA
It seem'd as if their mother EarthT
Had swallow'd up her warlike birthT
The wind's last breath had toss'd in airP
Pennon and plaid and plumage fairP
The next but swept a lone hill sideM
Where heath and fern were waving wideM
The sun's last glance was glinted backU
From spear and glaive from targe and jackU
The next all unreflected shoneV
On bracken green and cold grey stone XIW
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-
Fitz James look'd round yet scarce believedX
The witness that his sight receivedX
Such apparition well might seemY
Delusion of a dreadful dreamY
Sir Roderick in suspense he eyedM
And to his look the Chief repliedM
Fear nought nay that I need not sayZ
But doubt not aught from mine arrayZ
Thou art my guest I pledged my wordA2
As far as Coilantogle fordB2
Nor would I call a clansman's brandF
For aid against one valiant handF
Though on our strife lay every valeA
Rent by the Saxon from the GaelA
So move we on I only meantC2
To show the reed on which you leantD2
Deeming this path you might pursueA
Without a pass from Roderick DhuE2
They moved I said Fitz James was braveF2
As ever knight that belted glaiveF2
Yet dare not say that now his bloodG2
Kept on its wont and temper'd floodG2
As following Roderick's stride he drewA
That seeming lonesome pathway throughA
Which yet by fearful proof was rifeF2
With lances that to take his lifeF2
Waited but signal from a guideM
So late dishonour'd and defiedM
Ever by stealth his eye sought roundH2
The vanish'd guardians of the groundH2
And still from copse and heather deepI2
Fancy saw spear and broadsword peepI2
And in the plover's shrilly strainJ2
The signal whistle heard againH
Nor breathed he free till far behindK2
The pass was left for then they windK2
Along a wide and level greenL2
Where neither tree nor tuft was seenL2
Nor rush nor bush of broom was nearM2
To hide a bonnet or a spear XIIA
-
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The Chief in silence strode beforeQ
And reach'd that torrent's sounding shoreQ
Which daughter of three mighty lakesA
From Vennachar in silver breaksA
Sweeps through the plain and ceaseless minesA
On Bochastle the mouldering linesA
Where Rome the Empress of the worldN2
Of yore her eagle wings unfurl'dN2
And here his course the Chieftain staidO2
Threw down his target and his plaidP2
And to the Lowland warrior saidQ2
Bold Saxon to his promise justR2
Vich Alpine has discharged his trustR2
This murderous Chief this ruthless manS2
This head of a rebellious clanS2
Hath led thee safe through watch and wardB2
Far past Clan Alpine's outmost guardT2
Now man to man and steel to steelA
A Chieftain's vengeance thou shalt feelA
See here all vantageless I standF
Arm'd like thyself with single brandF
For this is Coilantogle fordB2
And thou must keep thee with thy sword XIIIA
-
-
The Saxon paused I ne'er delay'dO2
When foeman bade me draw my bladeO2
Nay more brave Chief I vow'd thy deathU2
Yet sure thy fair and generous faithV2
And my deep debt for life preservedW2
A better meed have well deservedW2
Can nought but blood our feud atoneV
Are there no means No Stranger noneI
And hear to fire thy flagging zealA
The Saxon cause rests on thy steelA
For thus spoke Fate by prophet bredQ2
Between the living and the deadQ2
'Who spills the foremost foeman's lifeF2
His party conquers in the strife '-
Then by my word the Saxon saidQ2
The riddle is already readQ2
Seek yonder brake beneath the cliffF2
There lies Red Murdoch stark and stiffF2
Thus Fate has solved her prophecyA
Then yield to Fate and not to meA
To James at Stirling let us goA
When if thou wilt be still his foeA
Or if the King shall not agreeA
To grant thee grace and favour freeA
I plight mine honour oath and wordA2
That to thy native strengths restoredB2
With each advantage shalt thou standF
That aids thee now to guard thy land XIVA
-
-
Dark lightning flash'd from Roderick's eyeA
Soars thy presumption then so highA
Because a wretched kern ye slewA
Homage to name to Roderick DhuE2
He yields not he to man nor FateX2
Thou add'st but fuel to my hateX2
My clansman's blood demands revengeY2
Not yet prepared By heaven I changeZ2
My thought and hold thy valour lightA3
As that of some vain carpet knightA3
Who ill deserved my courteous careP
And whose best boast is but to wearP
A braid of his fair lady's hairP
I thank thee Roderick for the wordA2
It nerves my heart it steels my swordB2
For I have sworn this braid to stainJ2
In the best blood that warms thy veinJ2
Now truce farewell and ruth begoneJ2
Yet think not that by thee aloneJ2
Proud Chief can courtesy be shownJ2
Though not from copse or heath or cairnJ2
Start at my whistle clansmen sternJ2
On this small horn one feeble blastB3
Would fearful odds against thee castB3
But fear not doubt not which thou wiltC3
We try this quarrel hilt to hiltC3
Then each at once his falchion drewA
Each on the ground his scabbard threwA
Each look'd to sun and stream and plainJ2
As what they ne'er might see againJ2
Then foot and point and eye opposedD3
In dubious strife they darkly closed XVA
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Ill fared it then with Roderick DhuE2
That on the field his targe he threwA
Whose brazen studs and tough bull hideM
Had death so often dash'd asideM
For train'd abroad his arms to wieldE3
Fitz James's blade was sword and shieldE3
He practised every pass and wardB2
To thrust to strike to feint to guardT2
While less expert though stronger farF3
The Gael maintain'd unequal warQ
Three times in closing strife they stoodS
And thrice the Saxon blade drank bloodG2
No stinted draught no scanty tideM
The gushing flood the tartans dyedM
Fierce Roderick felt the fatal drainJ2
And shower'd his blows like wintry rainJ2
And as firm rock or castle roofA
Against the winter shower is proofA
The foe invulnerable stillA
Foil'd his wild rage by steady skillA
Till at advantage ta'en his brandF
Forced Roderick's weapon from his handF
And backward borne upon the leaA
Brought the proud Chieftain to his knee XVIA
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NJ2

Sir Walter Scott



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