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 OI | A |
Hast thou not mark'd when o'er thy startled head | B |
Sudden and deep the thunder peal has roll'd | C |
How when its echoes fell a silence dead | B |
Sunk on the wood the meadow and the wold | C |
The rye glass shakes not on the sod built fold | C |
The rustling aspen's leaves are mute and still | D |
The wall flower waves not on the ruin'd hold | C |
Till murmuring distant first then near and shrill | D |
The savage whirlwind wakes and sweeps the groaning hill | D |
- | |
II | A |
Artornish such a silence sunk | E |
Upon thy halls when that grey Monk | E |
His prophet speech had spoke | F |
And his obedient brethren's sail | G |
Was stretch'd to meet the southern gale | G |
Before a whisper woke | F |
Then murmuring sounds of doubt and fear | H |
Close pour'd in many an anxious ear | I |
The solemn stillness broke | F |
And still they gazed with eager guess | J |
Where in an oriel's deep recess | J |
The Island Prince seem'd bent to press | J |
What Lorn by his impatient cheer | H |
And gesture fierce scarce deign'd to hear | I |
- | |
III | A |
Starting at length with frowning look | K |
His hand he clench'd his head he shook | K |
And sternly flung apart | L |
'And deem'st thou me so mean of mood | M |
As to forget the mortal feud | M |
And clasp the hand with blood inbrued | M |
From my dear Kinsman's heart | M |
Is this thy rede a due return | N |
For ancient league and friendship sworn | O |
But well our mountain proverb shows | P |
The faith of Islesmen ebbs and flows | P |
Be it even so believe ere long | Q |
He that now bears shall wreak the wrong | Q |
Call Edith call the Maid of Lorn | O |
My sister slaves for further scorn | O |
Be sure nor she nor I will stay | M |
Away De Argentine away | M |
We nor ally nor brother know | O |
In Bruce's friend or England's foe ' | - |
- | |
IV | R |
But who the Chieftain's rage can tell | S |
When sought from lowest dungeon cell | S |
To highest tower the castle round | M |
No Lady Edith was there found | M |
He shouted 'Falsehood treachery | T |
Revenge and blood a lordly meed | M |
To him that will avenge the deed | M |
A Baron's lands ' His frantic mood | M |
Was scarcely by the news withstood | M |
That Morag shared his sister's flight | M |
And that in hurry of the night | M |
'Scaped noteless and without remark | U |
Two strangers sought the Abott's bark | U |
'Man every galley fly pursue | V |
The priest his treachery shall rue | V |
Ay and the time shall quickly come | W |
When we shall hear the thanks that Rome | X |
Will pay his feigned prophecy ' | - |
Such was fierce Lorn's indignant cry | A |
And Cormac Doil in haste obey'd | M |
Hoisted his sail his anchor weigh'd | M |
For glad of each pretext for spoil | Y |
A pirate sworn was Cormac Doil | Y |
But others lingering spoke apart | M |
'The maid has given her maiden heart | M |
To Ronald of the Isles | Z |
And fearful lest her brother's word | M |
Bestow her on that English Lord | M |
She seeks Iona's piles | Z |
And wisely deems it best to dwell | Y |
A votaress in the holy cell | Y |
Until these feuds so fierce and fell | Y |
The Abbot reconciles ' | - |
- | |
V | T |
As impotent of ire the hall | Y |
Echoed to Lorn's impatient call | Y |
'My horse my mantle and my train | O |
Let none who honours Lorn remain ' | - |
Courteous but stern a bold request | M |
To Bruce De Argentine express'd | M |
'Lord Earl ' he said 'I cannot chuse | A2 |
But yield such title to the Bruce | B2 |
Though name and earldom both are gone | O |
Since he braced rebel's armour on | O |
But Earl or Serf rude phrase was thine | O |
Of late and launch'd at Argentine | O |
Such as compels me to demand | M |
Redress of honour at thy hand | M |
We need not to each other tell | Y |
That both can wield their weapons well | Y |
Then do me but the soldier grace | C2 |
This glove upon thy helm to place | C2 |
Where we may meet in fight | M |
And I will say as still I've said | M |
Though by ambition far misled | M |
Thou art a noble knight ' | - |
- | |
VI | A |
'And I ' the princely Bruce replied | M |
'Might term it stain on knighthood's pride | M |
That the bright sword of Argentine | O |
Should in a tyrant's quarrel shine | O |
But for your brave request | M |
Be sure the honour'd pledge you gave | R |
In every battle field shall wave | R |
Upon my helmet crest | M |
Believe that if my hasty tongue | D2 |
Hath done thine honour causeless wrong | Q |
It shall be well redress'd | M |
Not dearer to my soul was glove | R |
Bestow'd in youth by lady's love | R |
Than this which thou hast given | O |
Thus then my noble foe I greet | M |
Health and high fortune till we meet | M |
And then what pleases Heaven ' | - |
- | |
VII | R |
Thus parted they for now with sound | M |
Like waves roll'd back from rocky ground | M |
The friends of Lorn retire | E2 |
Each mainland chieftain with his train | O |
Draws to his mountain towers again | O |
Pondering how mortal schemes prove vain | O |
And mortal hopes expire | E2 |
But through the castle double guard | M |
By Ronald's charge kept wakeful ward | M |
Wicket and gate were trebly barr'd | M |
By beam and bolt and chain | O |
Then of the guests in courteous sort | M |
He pray'd excuse for mirth broke short | M |
And bade them in Artornish fort | M |
In confidence remain | O |
Now torch and menial tendance led | M |
Chieftains and knight to bower and bed | M |
And beads were told and Aves said | M |
And soon they sunk away | M |
Into such sleep as wont to shed | M |
Oblivion on the weary head | M |
After a toilsome day | M |
- | |
VIII | R |
But soon uproused the Monarch cried | M |
To Edward slumbering by his side | M |
'Awake or sleep for aye | A |
Even now there jarr'd a secret door | F2 |
A taper light gleams on the floor | F2 |
Up Edward up I say | M |
Some one glides in like midnight ghost | M |
Nay strike not 'tis our noble Host ' | - |
Advancing then his taper's flame | G2 |
Ronald stept forth and with him came | G2 |
Dunvegan's chief each bent the knee | T |
To Bruce in sign of fealty | T |
And proffer'd him his sword | M |
And hail'd him in a monarch's style | Y |
As king of mainland and of isle | Y |
And Scotland's rightful lord | M |
'And O ' said Ronald 'Own'd of Heaven | O |
Say is my erring youth forgiven | O |
By falsehood's arts from duty driven | O |
Who rebel falchion drew | V |
Yet ever to thy deeds of fame | G2 |
Even while I strove against thy claim | G2 |
Paid homage just and true ' | - |
'Alas dear youth the unhappy time ' | - |
Answer'd the Bruce 'must bear the crime | H2 |
Since guiltier far than you | V |
Even I' he paused for Falkirk's woes | P |
Upon his conscious soul arose | P |
The Chieftain to his breast he press'd | M |
And in a sigh conceal'd the rest | M |
- | |
IX | P |
They proffer'd aid by arms and might | M |
To repossess him in his right | M |
But well their counsels must be weigh'd | M |
Ere banners raised and musters made | M |
For English hire and Lorn's intrigues | P |
Bound many chiefs in southern leagues | P |
In answer Bruce his purpose bold | M |
To his new vassals frankly told | M |
'The winter worn in exile o'er | I2 |
I long'd for Carrick's kindred shore | F2 |
I thought upon my native Ayr | J2 |
And long'd to see the burly fare | K2 |
That Clifford makes whose lordly call | Y |
Now echoes through my father's hall | Y |
But first my course to Arran led | M |
Where valiant Lennox gathers head | M |
And on the sea by tempest toss'd | M |
Our barks dispersed our purpose cross'd | M |
Mine own a hostile sail to shun | O |
When that wise will which masters ours | P |
Compell'd us to your friendly towers ' | - |
- | |
X | P |
Then Torquil spoke 'The time craves speed | M |
We must not linger in our deed | M |
But instant pray our Sovereign Liege | L2 |
To shun the perils of a siege | L2 |
The vengeful Lorn with all his powers | P |
Lies but too near Artornish towers | P |
And England's light arm'd vessels ride | M |
Not distant far the waves of Clyde | M |
Prompt at these tidings to unmoor | K2 |
And sweep each strait and guard each shore | K2 |
Then till this fresh alarm pass by | A |
Secret and safe my Liege must lie | A |
In the far bounds of friendly Skye | V |
Torquil thy pilot and thy guide ' | - |
'Not so brave Chieftain ' Ronald cried | M |
'Myself will on my Sovereign wait | M |
And raise in arms the men of Sleate | M |
Whilst thou renown'd where chiefs debate | M |
Shalt sway them by thy locks of age ' | - |
'And if my words in weight shall fail | Y |
This ponderous sword shall turn the scale ' | - |
- | |
XI | P |
'The scheme ' said Bruce 'contents me well | Y |
Meantime 'twere best that Isabel | Y |
For safety with my bark and crew | K2 |
Again to friendly Erin drew | K2 |
There Edward too shall with her wend | M |
In need to cheer her and defend | M |
And muster up each scatter'd friend ' | - |
Here seem'd it as Lord Ron | O |
Sir Walter Scott
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Lord Of The Isles: Canto Iii. poem by Sir Walter Scott
Best Poems of Sir Walter Scott