The Burghers Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABA AAA ACA CDC DED EFG FAF AAA AAA AHA IFH FJF JKJ KAK AAA ALA LKL KFK FIF IKI KFK FJF JFJ| THE sun had wheeled from Grey's to Dammer's Crest | A |
| And still I mused on that Thing imminent | B |
| At length I sought the High street to the West | A |
| - | |
| The level flare raked pane and pediment | A |
| And my wrecked face and shaped my nearing friend | A |
| Like one of those the Furnace held unshent | A |
| - | |
| I've news concerning her he said Attend | A |
| They fly to night at the late moon's first gleam | C |
| Watch with thy steel two righteous thrusts will end | A |
| - | |
| Her shameless visions and his passioned dream | C |
| I'll watch with thee to testify thy wrong | D |
| To aid maybe Law consecrates the scheme | C |
| - | |
| I started and we paced the flags along | D |
| Till I replied Since it has come to this | E |
| I'll do it But alone I can be strong | D |
| - | |
| Three hours past Curfew when the Froom's mild hiss | E |
| Reigned sole undulled by whirr of merchandise | F |
| From Pummery Tout to where the Gibbet is | G |
| - | |
| I crossed my pleasaunce hard by Glyd'path Rise | F |
| And stood beneath the wall Eleven strokes went | A |
| And to the door they came contrariwise | F |
| - | |
| And met in clasp so close I had but bent | A |
| My lifted blade upon them to have let | A |
| Their two souls loose upon the firmament | A |
| - | |
| But something held my arm A moment yet | A |
| As pray time ere you wantons die I said | A |
| And then they saw me Swift her gaze was set | A |
| - | |
| With eye and cry of love illimited | A |
| Upon her Heart king Never upon me | H |
| Had she thrown look of love so thorough sped | A |
| - | |
| At once she flung her faint form shieldingly | I |
| On his against the vengeance of my vows | F |
| The which o'erruling her shape shielded he | H |
| - | |
| Blanked by such love I stood as in a drowse | F |
| And the slow moon edged from the upland nigh | J |
| My sad thoughts moving thuswise I may house | F |
| - | |
| And I may husband her yet what am I | J |
| But licensed tyrant to this bonded pair | K |
| Says Charity Do as ye would be done by | J |
| - | |
| Hurling my iron to the bushes there | K |
| I bade them stay And as if brain and breast | A |
| Were passive they walked with me to the stair | K |
| - | |
| Inside the house none watched and on we prest | A |
| Before a mirror in whose gleam I read | A |
| Her beauty his and mine own mien unblest | A |
| - | |
| Till at her room I turned Madam I said | A |
| Have you the wherewithal for this Pray speak | L |
| Love fills no cupboard You'll need daily bread | A |
| - | |
| We've nothing sire said she and nothing seek | L |
| 'Twere base in me to rob my lord unware | K |
| Our hands will earn a pittance week by week | L |
| - | |
| And next I saw she'd piled her raiment rare | K |
| Within the garde robes and her household purse | F |
| Her jewels and least lace of personal wear | K |
| - | |
| And stood in homespun Now grown wholly hers | F |
| I handed her the gold her jewells all | I |
| And him the choicest of her robes diverse | F |
| - | |
| I'll take you to the doorway in the wall | I |
| And then adieu I to them Friends withdraw | K |
| They did so and she went beyond recall | I |
| - | |
| And as I paused beneath the arch I saw | K |
| Their moonlit figures slow as in surprise | F |
| Descend the slope and vanish on the haw | K |
| - | |
| 'Fool ' some will say I thought But who is wise | F |
| Save God alone to weigh my reasons why | J |
| Hast thou struck home came with the boughs' night sighs | F |
| - | |
| It was my friend I have struck well They fly | J |
| But carry wounds that none can cicatrize | F |
| Not mortal said he Lingering worse said I | J |
Thomas Hardy
(1)
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