The Hamadryad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDBEFGHIHJHHKHBLHM HGNOHPQRSHQTUVWXYZHJ A2NB2AA2C2D2D2E2BHCF 2HG2D2H2D2HAI2BJ2K2L 2D2HM2ASHN2O2D2N2BHD 2HD2P2BD2N2KHHQ2HD2H D2R2HQD2HD2BBAO2D2AS 2BD2T2KD2U2S2BBV2BL2 W2X2CY2K2KBD2BZ2D2BA 3D2ND2BC2O2D2D2NQD2D 2QBO2D2B3N2BND2D2BD2 D2YBTOD2BC3BEABD2NBD 2D3S2BS2D2B3BAA D2D2A3 F2AE3

RHAICOS was born amid the hills wherefromA
Gnidos the light of Caria is discern dB
And small are the white crested that play nearC
And smaller onward are the purple wavesD
Thence festal choirs were visible all crown dB
With rose and myrtle if they were inbornE
If from Pandion sprang they on the coastF
Where stern Athen rais d her citadelG
Then olive was entwin d with violetsH
Cluster d in bosses regular and largeI
For various men wore various coronalsH
But one was their devotion t was to herJ
Whose laws all follow her whose smile withdrawsH
The sword from Ares thunderbolt from ZeusH
And whom in his chill caves the mutableK
Of mind Poseidon the sea king reveresH
And whom his brother stubborn Dis hath pray dB
To turn in pity the averted cheekL
Of her he bore away with promisesH
Nay with loud oath before dread Styx itselfM
To give her daily more and sweeter flowersH
Than he made drop from her on Enna s dellG
Rhaicos was looking from his father s doorN
At the long trains that hasten d to the townO
From all the valleys like bright rivuletsH
Gurgling with gladness wave outrunning waveP
And thought it hard he might not also goQ
And offer up one prayer and press one handR
He knew not whose The father call d him inS
And said Son Rhaicos those are idle gamesH
Long enough I have liv d to find them soQ
And ere he ended sigh d as old men doT
Always to think how idle such games areU
I have not yet thought Rhaicos in his heartV
And wanted proofW
Suppose thou go and helpX
Echion at the hill to bark yon oakY
And lop its branches off before we delveZ
About the trunk and ply the root with axeH
This we may do in winterJ
Rhaicos wentA2
For thence he could see farther and see moreN
Of those who hurried to the city gateB2
Echion he found there with naked armA
Swart hair d strong sinew d and his eyes intentA2
Upon the place where first the axe should fallC2
He held it upright There are bees aboutD2
Or wasps or hornets said the cautious eldD2
Look sharp O son of Thallinos The youthE2
Inclin d his ear afar and warilyB
And cavern d in his hand He heard a buzzH
At first and then the sound grew soft and clearC
And then divided into what seem d tuneF2
And there were words upon it plaintive wordsH
He turn d and said Echion do not strikeG2
That tree it must be hollow for some godD2
Speaks from within Come thyself near AgainH2
Both turn d toward it and behold there satD2
Upon the moss below with her two palmsH
Pressing it on each side a maid in formA
Downcast were her long eyelashes and paleI2
Her cheek but never mountain ash display dB
Berries of color like her lip so pureJ2
Nor were the anemones about her hairK2
Soft smooth and wavering like the face beneathL2
What dost thou here Echion half afraidD2
Half angry cried She lifted up her eyesH
But nothing spake she Rhaicos drew one stepM2
Backward for fear came likewise over himA
But not such fear he panted gasp d drew inS
His breath and would have turn d it into wordsH
But could not into oneN2
O send awayO2
That sad old man said she The old man wentD2
Without a warning from his master s sonN2
Glad to escape for sorely he now fear dB
And the axe shone behind him in their eyesH
Hamad And wouldst thou too shed the most innocentD2
Of blood No vow demands it no god willsH
The oak to bleedD2
Rhaicos Who art thou whence why hereP2
And whither wouldst thou go Among the rob dB
In white or saffron or the hue that mostD2
Resembles dawn or the clear sky is noneN2
Array d as thou art What so beautifulK
As that gray robe which clings about thee closeH
Like moss to stones adhering leaves to treesH
Yet lets thy bosom rise and fall in turnQ2
As touch d by zephyrs fall and rise the boughsH
Of graceful platan by the river sideD2
Hamad Lovest thou well thy father s houseH
Rhaicos IndeedD2
I love it well I love it yet would leaveR2
For thine where er it be my father s houseH
With all the marks upon the door that showQ
My growth at every birthday since the thirdD2
And all the charms o erpowering evil eyesH
My mother nail d for me against my bedD2
And the Cydonian bow which thou shalt seeB
Won in my race last spring from EutychosB
Hamad Bethink thee what it is to leave a homeA
Thou never yet hast left one night one dayO2
Rhaicos No t is not hard to leave it t is not hardD2
To leave O maiden that paternal homeA
If there be one on earth whom we may loveS2
First last for ever one who says that sheB
Will love for ever too To say which wordD2
Only to say it surely is enoughT2
It shows such kindness if t were possibleK
We at the moment think she would indeedD2
Hamad Who taught thee all this folly at thy ageU2
Rhaicos I have seen lovers and have learn d to loveS2
Hamad But wilt thou spare the treeB
Rhaicos My father wantsB
The bark the tree may hold its place awhileV2
Hamad Awhile thy father numbers then my daysB
Rhaicos Are there no others where the moss beneathL2
Is quite as tufty Who would send thee forthW2
Or ask thee why thou tarriest Is thy flockX2
Anywhere nearC
Hamad I have no flock I killY2
Nothing that breathes that stirs that feels the airK2
The sun the dew Why should the beautifulK
And thou art beautiful disturb the sourceB
Whence springs all beauty Hast thou never heardD2
Of HamadryadsB
Rhaicos Heard of them I haveZ2
Tell me some tale about them May I sitD2
Beside thy feet Art thou not tired The herbsB
Are very soft I will not come too nighA3
Do but sit there nor tremble so nor doubtD2
Stay stay an instant let me first exploreN
If any acorn of last year be leftD2
Within it thy thin robe too ill protectsB
Thy dainty limbs against the harm one smallC2
Acorn may do Here s none Another dayO2
Trust me till then let me sit oppositeD2
Hamad I seat me be thou seated and contentD2
Rhaicos O sight for gods ye men below adoreN
The Aphrodit Is she there belowQ
Or sits she here before me as she sateD2
Before the shepherd on those heights that shadeD2
The Hellespont and brought his kindred woeQ
Hamad Reverence the higher Powers nor deem amissB
Of her who pleads to thee and would repayO2
Ask not how much but very much Rise notD2
No Rhaicos no Without the nuptial vowB3
Love is unholy Swear to me that noneN2
Of mortal maids shall ever taste thy kissB
Then take thou mine then take it not beforeN
Rhaicos Hearken all gods above O AphroditD2
O Her Let my vow be ratifiedD2
But wilt thou come into my father s houseB
Hamad Nay and of mine I cannot give thee partD2
Rhaicos Where is itD2
Hamad In this oakY
Rhaicos Ay now beginsB
The tale of Hamadryad tell it throughT
Hamad Pray of thy father never to cut downO
My tree and promise him as well thou maystD2
That every year he shall receive from meB
More honey than will buy him nine fat sheepC3
More wax than he will burn to all the godsB
Why fallest thou upon thy face Some thornE
May scratch it rash young man Rise up for shameA
Rhaicos For shame I cannot rise O pity meB
I dare not sue for love but do not hateD2
Let me once more behold thee not once moreN
But many days let me love on unlov dB
I aim d too high on my own head the boltD2
Falls back and pierces to the very brainD3
Hamad Go rather go than make me say I loveS2
Rhaicos If happiness is immortalityB
And whence enjoy it else the gods aboveS2
I am immortal too my vow is heardD2
Hark on the left Nay turn not from me nowB3
I claim my kissB
Hamad Do men take first then claimA
Do thus the seasons run their course with themA
-
Her lips were seal d her head sank on his breastD2
T is said that laughs were heard within the woodD2
But who should hear them and whose laughs and whyA3
-
Savory was the smell and long past noonF2
Thallinos in thy house for marjoramA
Basil anE3

Walter Savage Landor



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