Lament For The Decline Of Chivalry.[1] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABCCB DDEDDE FFFGGH IIJKKJ DDIDDI LLDDDD FFMNNM DDOFFO DDDPPD FFFQQF FFRSTR DDFSSF UUDVVD DDFWPF FFDFFD FFXYYN

Well hast thou cried departed BurkeA
All chivalrous romantic workA
Is ended now and pastB
That iron age which some have thoughtC
Of metal rather overwroughtC
Is now all overcastB
-
Ay where are those heroic knightsD
Of old those armadillo wightsD
Who wore the plated vestE
Great Charlemagne and all his peersD
Are cold enjoying with their spearsD
An everlasting restE
-
The bold King Arthur sleepeth soundF
So sleep his knights who gave that RoundF
Old Table such clatF
Oh Time has pluck'd the plumy browG
And none engage at tourneys nowG
But those that go to lawH
-
Grim John o' Gaunt is quite gone byI
And Guy is nothing but a GuyI
Orlando lies forlornJ
Bold Sidney and his kidney nayK
Those early champions what are theyK
But Knights without a mornJ
-
No Percy branch now perseveresD
Like those of old in breaking spearsD
The name is now a lieI
Surgeons alone by any chanceD
Are all that ever couch a lanceD
To couch a body's eyeI
-
Alas for Lion Hearted DickL
That cut the Moslems to the quickL
His weapon lies in peaceD
Oh it would warm them in a triceD
If they could only have a spiceD
Of his old mace in GreeceD
-
The famed Rinaldo lies a coldF
And Tancred too and Godfrey boldF
That scaled the holy wallM
No Saracen meets PaladinN
We hear of no great SaladinN
But only grow the smallM
-
Our Cressys too have dwindled sinceD
To penny things at our Black PrinceD
Historic pens would scoffO
The only one we moderns hadF
Was nothing but a Sandwich ladF
And measles took him offO
-
Where are those old and feudal clansD
Their pikes and bills and partisansD
Their hauberks jerkins buffsD
A battle was a battle thenP
A breathing piece of work but menP
Fight now with powder puffsD
-
The curtal axe is out of dateF
The good old crossbow bends to FateF
'Tis gone the archer's craftF
No tough arm bends the spinning yewQ
And jolly draymen ride in lieuQ
Of Death upon the shaftF
-
The spear the gallant tilter's prideF
The rusty spear is laid asideF
Oh spits now domineerR
The coat of mail is left aloneS
And where is all chain armor goneT
Go ask at Brighton PierR
-
We fight in ropes and not in listsD
Bestowing hand cuffs with our fistsD
A low and vulgar artF
No mounted man is overthrownS
A tilt it is a thing unknownS
Except upon a cartF
-
Methinks I see the bounding barbU
Clad like his Chief in steely garbU
For warding steel's applianceD
Methinks I hear the trumpet stirV
'Tis but the guard to ExeterV
That bugles the DefianceD
-
In cavils when will cavaliersD
Set ringing helmets by the earsD
And scatter plumes aboutF
Or blood if they are in the veinW
That tap will never run againP
Alas the Casque is outF
-
No iron crackling now is scoredF
By dint of battle axe or swordF
To find a vital placeD
Though certain doctors still pretendF
Awhile before they kill a friendF
To labor through his caseD
-
Farewell then ancient men of mightF
Crusader errant squire and knightF
Our coats and customs softenX
To rise would only make you weepY
Sleep on in rusty iron sleepY
As in a safety coffinN

Thomas Hood



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