The Lady Of The Lake: Canto Iv. - The Prophecy Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDDEFEE AGGHHIIGGJJJ JJKL MNJO AKKPQJJDDRRSSM TTJJUUUV EJJJ MMWWPQ DJXXYYXXZJXXJN WJXXDDA2A2B2B2HHC2C2 D2E2DDXXF2F2 DWHXXG2G2N EXXEEH2H2DDXXI2I2JJJ 2J2XXK2K2L2L2M2M2E EHHXXJJJJN2N2XXJJJ EEEH DDJ JJJXXJJXXHHEEHHDDHJA 2 DDDHH DJJJHHXXHHO2O2XXP2P2 XXJJXXH DJ XXEEQ2

IA
The rose is fairest when 't is budding newB
And hope is brightest when it dawns from fearsC
The rose is sweetest washed with morning dewB
And love is loveliest when embalmed in tearsD
O wilding rose whom fancy thus endearsD
I bid your blossoms in my bonnet waveE
Emblem of hope and love through future years 'F
Thus spoke young Norman heir of ArmandaveE
What time the sun arose on Vennachar's broad waveE
-
IIA
Such fond conceit half said half sungG
Love prompted to the bridegroom's tongueG
All while he stripped the wild rose sprayH
His axe and bow beside him layH
For on a pass 'twixt lake and woodI
A wakeful sentinel he stoodI
Hark on the rock a footstep rungG
And instant to his arms he sprungG
'Stand or thou diest What Malise soonJ
Art thou returned from Braes of DouneJ
By thy keen step and glance I knowJ
Thou bring'st us tidings of the foe '-
For while the Fiery Cross tried onJ
On distant scout had Malise goneJ
'Where sleeps the Chief ' the henchman saidK
'Apart in yonder misty gladeL
To his lone couch I'll be your guide '-
Then called a slumberer by his sideM
And stirred him with his slackened bowN
'Up up Glentarkin rouse thee hoJ
We seek the Chieftain on the trackO
Keep eagle watch till I come back '-
-
IIIA
Together up the pass they spedK
'What of the foeman ' Norman saidK
'Varying reports from near and farP
This certain that a band of warQ
Has for two days been ready bouneJ
At prompt command to march from DouneJ
King James the while with princely powersD
Holds revelry in Stirling towersD
Soon will this dark and gathering cloudR
Speak on our glens in thunder loudR
Inured to bide such bitter boutS
The warrior's plaid may bear it outS
But Norman how wilt thou provideM
A shelter for thy bonny bride ''-
'What know ye not that Roderick's careT
To the lone isle hath caused repairT
Each maid and matron of the clanJ
And every child and aged manJ
Unfit for arms and given his chargeU
Nor skiff nor shallop boat nor bargeU
Upon these lakes shall float at largeU
But all beside the islet moorV
That such dear pledge may rest secure '-
-
IVE
''Tis well advised the Chieftain's planJ
Bespeaks the father of his clanJ
But wherefore sleeps Sir Roderick DhuJ
Apart from all his followers true '-
'It is because last evening tideM
Brian an augury hath triedM
Of that dread kind which must not beW
Unless in dread extremityW
The Taghairm called by which afarP
Our sires foresaw the events of warQ
Duncraggan's milk white bull they slew '-
-
MaliseD
'Ah well the gallant brute I knewJ
The choicest of the prey we hadX
When swept our merrymen GallangadX
His hide was snow his horns were darkY
His red eye glowed like fiery sparkY
So fierce so tameless and so fleetX
Sore did he cumber our retreatX
And kept our stoutest kerns in aweZ
Even at the pass of Beal 'mahaJ
But steep and flinty was the roadX
And sharp the hurrying pikeman's goadX
And when we came to Dennan's RowJ
A child might scathless stroke his browN
-
VW
NormanJ
'That bull was slain his reeking hideX
They stretched the cataract besideX
Whose waters their wild tumult tossD
Adown the black and craggy bossD
Of that huge cliff whose ample vergeA2
Tradition calls the Hero's TargeA2
Couched on a shelf beneath its brinkB2
Close where the thundering torrents sinkB2
Rocking beneath their headlong swayH
And drizzled by the ceaseless sprayH
Midst groan of rock and roar of streamC2
The wizard waits prophetic dreamC2
Nor distant rests the Chief but hushD2
See gliding slow through mist and bushE2
The hermit gains yon rock and standsD
To gaze upon our slumbering bandsD
Seems he not Malise dike a ghostX
That hovers o'er a slaughtered hostX
Or raven on the blasted oakF2
That watching while the deer is brokeF2
His morsel claims with sullen croak '-
-
MaliseD
'Peace peace to other than to meW
Thy words were evil auguryH
But still I hold Sir Roderick's bladeX
Clan Alpine's omen and her aidX
Not aught that gleaned from heaven or hellG2
Yon fiend begotten Monk can tellG2
The Chieftain joins him see and nowN
Together they descend the brow '-
-
VIE
And as they came with Alpine's LordX
The Hermit Monk held solemn wordX
'Roderick it is a fearful strifeE
For man endowed with mortal lifeE
Whose shroud of sentient clay can stillH2
Feel feverish pang and fainting chillH2
Whose eye can stare in stony tranceD
Whose hair can rouse like warrior's lanceD
'Tis hard for such to view unfurledX
The curtain of the future worldX
Yet witness every quaking limbI2
My sunken pulse mine eyeballs dimI2
My soul with harrowing anguish tornJ
This for my Chieftain have I borneJ
The shapes that sought my fearful couchJ2
A human tongue may ne'er avouchJ2
No mortal man save he who bredX
Between the living and the deadX
Is gifted beyond nature's lawK2
Had e'er survived to say he sawK2
At length the fateful answer cameL2
In characters of living flameL2
Not spoke in word nor blazed in scrollM2
But borne and branded on my soulM2
WHICH SPILLS THE FOREMOST FOEMAN'S LIFEE
THAT PARTY CONQUERS IN THE STRIFE '-
-
VIIE
'Thanks Brian for thy zeal and careH
Good is thine augury and fairH
Clan Alpine ne'er in battle stoodX
But first our broadswords tasted bloodX
A surer victim still I knowJ
Self offered to the auspicious blowJ
A spy has sought my land this mornJ
No eve shall witness his returnJ
My followers guard each pass's mouthN2
To east to westward and to southN2
Red Murdoch bribed to be his guideX
Has charge to lead his steps asideX
Till in deep path or dingle brownJ
He light on those shall bring him clownJ
But see who comes his news to showJ
Malise what tidings of the foe '-
-
VIIIE
'At Doune o'er many a spear and glaiveE
Two Barons proud their banners waveE
I saw the Moray's silver starH
And marked the sable pale of Mar '-
'By Alpine's soul high tidings thoseD
I love to hear of worthy foesD
When move they on ' 'To morrow's noonJ
Will see them here for battle boune '-
'Then shall it see a meeting sternJ
But for the place say couldst thou learnJ
Nought of the friendly clans of EarnJ
Strengthened by them we well might bideX
The battle on Benledi's sideX
Thou couldst not well Clan Alpine's menJ
Shall man the Trosachs' shaggy glenJ
Within Loch Katrine's gorge we'll fightX
All in our maids' and matrons' sightX
Each for his hearth and household fireH
Father for child and son for sire LoverH
for maid beloved But whyE
Is it the breeze affects mine eyeE
Or dost thou come ill omened tearH
A messenger of doubt or fearH
No sooner may the Saxon lanceD
Unfix Benledi from his stanceD
Than doubt or terror can pierce throughH
The unyielding heart of Roderick DhuJ
'tis stubborn as his trusty targeA2
Each to his post all know their charge '-
The pibroch sounds the bands advanceD
The broadswords gleam the banners dance'D
Obedient to the Chieftain's glanceD
I turn me from the martial roarH
And seek Coir Uriskin once moreH
-
IXD
Where is the Douglas he is goneJ
And Ellen sits on the gray stoneJ
Fast by the cave and makes her moanJ
While vainly Allan's words of cheerH
Are poured on her unheeding earH
'He will return dear lady trustX
With joy return he will he mustX
Well was it time to seek afarH
Some refuge from impending warH
When e'en Clan Alpine's rugged swarmO2
Are cowed by the approaching stormO2
I saw their boats with many a lightX
Floating the livelong yesternightX
Shifting like flashes darted forthP2
By the red streamers of the northP2
I marked at morn how close they rideX
Thick moored by the lone islet's sideX
Like wild ducks couching in the fenJ
When stoops the hawk upon the glenJ
Since this rude race dare not abideX
The peril on the mainland sideX
Shall not thy noble father's careH
Some safe retreat for thee prepare '-
-
XD
EllenJ
-
'No Allan no ' Pretext so kindX
My wakeful terrors could not blindX
When in such tender tone yet graveE
Douglas a parting blessing gaveE
The tear thQ2

Sir Walter Scott



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