The Lord Of The Isles: Canto Iii. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBCCDCDD AEEFGGFHIFJJJHI AKKLMMMMNOPPQQOOMMO RSSMMTMMMMMMUUVVWX AMMYYMMZMMZYYY TYYO MMA2B2OOOOMMYYC2C2MM M AMMOOMRRMD2QMRROMM RMME2OOOE2MMMOMMMOMM MMMMM RMMAF2F2MM G2G2TTMYYMOOOVG2G2 H2VPPMM PMMMMPPMMI2F2J2K2YYM MMMOP PMML2L2PPMMK2K2AAV MMMM Y PYYK2K2MM O

IA
Hast thou not mark'd when o'er thy startled headB
Sudden and deep the thunder peal has roll'dC
How when its echoes fell a silence deadB
Sunk on the wood the meadow and the woldC
The rye glass shakes not on the sod built foldC
The rustling aspen's leaves are mute and stillD
The wall flower waves not on the ruin'd holdC
Till murmuring distant first then near and shrillD
The savage whirlwind wakes and sweeps the groaning hillD
-
IIA
Artornish such a silence sunkE
Upon thy halls when that grey MonkE
His prophet speech had spokeF
And his obedient brethren's sailG
Was stretch'd to meet the southern galeG
Before a whisper wokeF
Then murmuring sounds of doubt and fearH
Close pour'd in many an anxious earI
The solemn stillness brokeF
And still they gazed with eager guessJ
Where in an oriel's deep recessJ
The Island Prince seem'd bent to pressJ
What Lorn by his impatient cheerH
And gesture fierce scarce deign'd to hearI
-
IIIA
Starting at length with frowning lookK
His hand he clench'd his head he shookK
And sternly flung apartL
'And deem'st thou me so mean of moodM
As to forget the mortal feudM
And clasp the hand with blood inbruedM
From my dear Kinsman's heartM
Is this thy rede a due returnN
For ancient league and friendship swornO
But well our mountain proverb showsP
The faith of Islesmen ebbs and flowsP
Be it even so believe ere longQ
He that now bears shall wreak the wrongQ
Call Edith call the Maid of LornO
My sister slaves for further scornO
Be sure nor she nor I will stayM
Away De Argentine awayM
We nor ally nor brother knowO
In Bruce's friend or England's foe '-
-
IVR
But who the Chieftain's rage can tellS
When sought from lowest dungeon cellS
To highest tower the castle roundM
No Lady Edith was there foundM
He shouted 'Falsehood treacheryT
Revenge and blood a lordly meedM
To him that will avenge the deedM
A Baron's lands ' His frantic moodM
Was scarcely by the news withstoodM
That Morag shared his sister's flightM
And that in hurry of the nightM
'Scaped noteless and without remarkU
Two strangers sought the Abott's barkU
'Man every galley fly pursueV
The priest his treachery shall rueV
Ay and the time shall quickly comeW
When we shall hear the thanks that RomeX
Will pay his feigned prophecy '-
Such was fierce Lorn's indignant cryA
And Cormac Doil in haste obey'dM
Hoisted his sail his anchor weigh'dM
For glad of each pretext for spoilY
A pirate sworn was Cormac DoilY
But others lingering spoke apartM
'The maid has given her maiden heartM
To Ronald of the IslesZ
And fearful lest her brother's wordM
Bestow her on that English LordM
She seeks Iona's pilesZ
And wisely deems it best to dwellY
A votaress in the holy cellY
Until these feuds so fierce and fellY
The Abbot reconciles '-
-
VT
As impotent of ire the hallY
Echoed to Lorn's impatient callY
'My horse my mantle and my trainO
Let none who honours Lorn remain '-
Courteous but stern a bold requestM
To Bruce De Argentine express'dM
'Lord Earl ' he said 'I cannot chuseA2
But yield such title to the BruceB2
Though name and earldom both are goneO
Since he braced rebel's armour onO
But Earl or Serf rude phrase was thineO
Of late and launch'd at ArgentineO
Such as compels me to demandM
Redress of honour at thy handM
We need not to each other tellY
That both can wield their weapons wellY
Then do me but the soldier graceC2
This glove upon thy helm to placeC2
Where we may meet in fightM
And I will say as still I've saidM
Though by ambition far misledM
Thou art a noble knight '-
-
VIA
'And I ' the princely Bruce repliedM
'Might term it stain on knighthood's prideM
That the bright sword of ArgentineO
Should in a tyrant's quarrel shineO
But for your brave requestM
Be sure the honour'd pledge you gaveR
In every battle field shall waveR
Upon my helmet crestM
Believe that if my hasty tongueD2
Hath done thine honour causeless wrongQ
It shall be well redress'dM
Not dearer to my soul was gloveR
Bestow'd in youth by lady's loveR
Than this which thou hast givenO
Thus then my noble foe I greetM
Health and high fortune till we meetM
And then what pleases Heaven '-
-
VIIR
Thus parted they for now with soundM
Like waves roll'd back from rocky groundM
The friends of Lorn retireE2
Each mainland chieftain with his trainO
Draws to his mountain towers againO
Pondering how mortal schemes prove vainO
And mortal hopes expireE2
But through the castle double guardM
By Ronald's charge kept wakeful wardM
Wicket and gate were trebly barr'dM
By beam and bolt and chainO
Then of the guests in courteous sortM
He pray'd excuse for mirth broke shortM
And bade them in Artornish fortM
In confidence remainO
Now torch and menial tendance ledM
Chieftains and knight to bower and bedM
And beads were told and Aves saidM
And soon they sunk awayM
Into such sleep as wont to shedM
Oblivion on the weary headM
After a toilsome dayM
-
VIIIR
But soon uproused the Monarch criedM
To Edward slumbering by his sideM
'Awake or sleep for ayeA
Even now there jarr'd a secret doorF2
A taper light gleams on the floorF2
Up Edward up I sayM
Some one glides in like midnight ghostM
Nay strike not 'tis our noble Host '-
Advancing then his taper's flameG2
Ronald stept forth and with him cameG2
Dunvegan's chief each bent the kneeT
To Bruce in sign of fealtyT
And proffer'd him his swordM
And hail'd him in a monarch's styleY
As king of mainland and of isleY
And Scotland's rightful lordM
'And O ' said Ronald 'Own'd of HeavenO
Say is my erring youth forgivenO
By falsehood's arts from duty drivenO
Who rebel falchion drewV
Yet ever to thy deeds of fameG2
Even while I strove against thy claimG2
Paid homage just and true '-
'Alas dear youth the unhappy time '-
Answer'd the Bruce 'must bear the crimeH2
Since guiltier far than youV
Even I' he paused for Falkirk's woesP
Upon his conscious soul aroseP
The Chieftain to his breast he press'dM
And in a sigh conceal'd the restM
-
IXP
They proffer'd aid by arms and mightM
To repossess him in his rightM
But well their counsels must be weigh'dM
Ere banners raised and musters madeM
For English hire and Lorn's intriguesP
Bound many chiefs in southern leaguesP
In answer Bruce his purpose boldM
To his new vassals frankly toldM
'The winter worn in exile o'erI2
I long'd for Carrick's kindred shoreF2
I thought upon my native AyrJ2
And long'd to see the burly fareK2
That Clifford makes whose lordly callY
Now echoes through my father's hallY
But first my course to Arran ledM
Where valiant Lennox gathers headM
And on the sea by tempest toss'dM
Our barks dispersed our purpose cross'dM
Mine own a hostile sail to shunO
When that wise will which masters oursP
Compell'd us to your friendly towers '-
-
XP
Then Torquil spoke 'The time craves speedM
We must not linger in our deedM
But instant pray our Sovereign LiegeL2
To shun the perils of a siegeL2
The vengeful Lorn with all his powersP
Lies but too near Artornish towersP
And England's light arm'd vessels rideM
Not distant far the waves of ClydeM
Prompt at these tidings to unmoorK2
And sweep each strait and guard each shoreK2
Then till this fresh alarm pass byA
Secret and safe my Liege must lieA
In the far bounds of friendly SkyeV
Torquil thy pilot and thy guide '-
'Not so brave Chieftain ' Ronald criedM
'Myself will on my Sovereign waitM
And raise in arms the men of SleateM
Whilst thou renown'd where chiefs debateM
Shalt sway them by thy locks of age '-
'And if my words in weight shall failY
This ponderous sword shall turn the scale '-
-
XIP
'The scheme ' said Bruce 'contents me wellY
Meantime 'twere best that IsabelY
For safety with my bark and crewK2
Again to friendly Erin drewK2
There Edward too shall with her wendM
In need to cheer her and defendM
And muster up each scatter'd friend '-
Here seem'd it as Lord RonO

Sir Walter Scott



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