Marmion: Canto I. - The Castle Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCBBBCAADEED A FFGHHGIJKKJLL A MNNFOOOFPPQRRQRR A NSTTTSUUSVRVVVR T VVTSWXVVHYZZA2A2A2B2 C2C2C2B2 A RRVVVVVVVVVD2D2VV A NNE2E2FFVVA2A2 A NNLLVVF2F2QQF2F2QQVV VVVVLGFF N G2G2VG2G2VA2A2VH2H2V N VAVAVVVVG2VG2V N I2I2G2VVG2J2J2G2VVG2 G2VG2V N RVRVG2VG2VAVAVVA2VA2 VVVVVFVJ2 N VVVVNANAVVRFFRG2K2FF FFG2G2 A NNNNVRVRVA2VA2NG2NG2 A FG2FG2G2A2G2G2A2VVVV VVVA2A2A2VVVVVL2A2L2 A2 A VAVAA2A2G2G2FFFB2M2E 2E2 A VVVVNNA2VVA2VAVAFF A VVA2A2VVVVNNVVA2A2 N A2G2A2A2RRNN N VVFFA2A2A2A2NNRRVVVV N NNVVVVVVA2A2NNRRVVA2 A2RRA2A2A2A2VVNNVVVA AAA2A2A2A2A2 N VVVA2A2N2N2NNRRRVVVV VRRRA2A2NN N O2P2Q2A2A2A2A2VVNNA2 A2RRVANV N NNVVL2L2FFRRNNN N A2A2NNVVVVVRRNVVN N VVA2A2FFRRA2A2A2A2VV FFNN N NNNNRRNNVVVFFVA2A2VV N RRRA2VVVA2RRRVA2A2A2 VA2A2A2A2NNNA2RR N FFVVNNVNNNVRRA2FFA2 N BBBNVVVNANA2A2VVVV N NNA2A2VVNNVVVVVVNNA2 NNA2A2A2A2I | A |
- | |
Day set on Norham's castled steep | B |
And Tweed's fair river broad and deep | B |
And Cheviot's mountains lone | C |
The battled towers the donjon keep | B |
The loophole grates where captives weep | B |
The flanking walls that round it sweep | B |
In yellow lustre shone | C |
The warriors on the turrets high | A |
Moving athwart the evening sky | A |
Seemed forms of giant height | D |
Their armour as it caught the rays | E |
Flashed back again the western blaze | E |
In lines of dazzling light | D |
- | |
II | A |
- | |
Saint George's banner broad and gay | F |
Now faded as the fading ray | F |
Less bright and less was flung | G |
The evening gale had scarce the power | H |
To wave it on the donjon tower | H |
So heavily it hung | G |
The scouts had parted on their search | I |
The castle gates were barred | J |
Above the gloomy portal arch | K |
Timing his footsteps to a march | K |
The warder kept his guard | J |
Low humming as he paced along | L |
Some ancient Border gathering song | L |
- | |
III | A |
- | |
A distant trampling sound he hears | M |
He looks abroad and soon appears | N |
O'er Horncliff Hill a plump of spears | N |
Beneath a pennon gay | F |
A horseman darting from the crowd | O |
Like lightning from a summer cloud | O |
Spurs on his mettled courser proud | O |
Before the dark array | F |
Beneath the sable palisade | P |
That closed the castle barricade | P |
His bugle horn he blew | Q |
The warder hasted from the wall | R |
And warned the captain in the hall | R |
For well the blast he knew | Q |
And joyfully that knight did call | R |
To sewer squire and seneschal | R |
- | |
IV | A |
- | |
Now broach ye a pipe of Malvoisie | N |
Bring pasties of the doe | S |
And quickly make the entrance free | T |
And bid my heralds ready be | T |
And every minstrel sound his glee | T |
And all our trumpets blow | S |
And from the platform spare ye not | U |
To fire a noble salvo shot | U |
Lord Marmion waits below | S |
Then to the castle's lower ward | V |
Sped forty yeomen tall | R |
The iron studded gates unbarred | V |
Raised the portcullis' ponderous guard | V |
The lofty palisade unsparred | V |
And let the drawbridge fall | R |
- | |
V | T |
- | |
Along the bridge Lord Marmion rode | V |
Proudly his red roan charger trode | V |
His helm hung at the saddlebow | T |
Well by his visage you might know | S |
He was a stalwart knight and keen | W |
And had in many a battle been | X |
The scar on his brown cheek revealed | V |
A token true of Bosworth field | V |
His eyebrow dark and eye of fire | H |
Showed spirit proud and prompt to ire | Y |
Yet lines of thought upon his cheek | Z |
Did deep design and counsel speak | Z |
His forehead by his casque worn bare | A2 |
His thick moustache and curly hair | A2 |
Coal black and grizzled here and there | A2 |
But more through toil than age | B2 |
His square turned joints and strength of limb | C2 |
Showed him no carpet knight so trim | C2 |
But in close fight a champion grim | C2 |
In camps a leader sage | B2 |
- | |
VI | A |
- | |
Well was he armed from head to heel | R |
In mail and plate of Milan steel | R |
But his strong helm of mighty cost | V |
Was all with burnished gold embossed | V |
Amid the plumage of the crest | V |
A falcon hovered on her nest | V |
With wings outspread and forward breast | V |
E'en such a falcon on his shield | V |
Soared sable in an azure field | V |
The golden legend bore aright | V |
Who checks at me to death is dight | V |
Blue was the charger's broidered rein | D2 |
Blue ribbons decked his arching mane | D2 |
The knightly housing's ample fold | V |
Was velvet blue and trapped with gold | V |
- | |
VII | A |
- | |
Behind him rode two gallant squires | N |
Of noble name and knightly sires | N |
They burned the gilded spurs to claim | E2 |
For well could each a war horse tame | E2 |
Could draw the bow the sword could sway | F |
And lightly bear the ring away | F |
Nor less with courteous precepts stored | V |
Could dance in hall and carve at board | V |
And frame love ditties passing rare | A2 |
And sing them to a lady fair | A2 |
- | |
VIII | A |
- | |
Four men at arms came at their backs | N |
With halbert bill and battle axe | N |
They bore Lord Marmion's lance so strong | L |
And led his sumpter mules along | L |
And ambling palfrey when at need | V |
Him listed ease his battle steed | V |
The last and trustiest of the four | F2 |
On high his forky pennon bore | F2 |
Like swallow's tail in shape and hue | Q |
Fluttered the streamer glossy blue | Q |
Where blazoned sable as before | F2 |
The towering falcon seemed to soar | F2 |
Last twenty yeomen two and two | Q |
In hosen black and jerkins blue | Q |
With falcons broidered on each breast | V |
Attended on their lord's behest | V |
Each chosen for an archer good | V |
Knew hunting craft by lake or wood | V |
Each one a six foot bow could bend | V |
And far a clothyard shaft could send | V |
Each held a boar spear tough and strong | L |
And at their belts their quivers rung | G |
Their dusty palfreys and array | F |
Showed they had marched a weary way | F |
- | |
IX | N |
- | |
'Tis meet that I should tell you now | G2 |
How fairly armed and ordered how | G2 |
The soldiers of the guard | V |
With musket pike and morion | G2 |
To welcome noble Marmion | G2 |
Stood in the castle yard | V |
Minstrels and trumpeters were there | A2 |
The gunner held his linstock yare | A2 |
For welcome shot prepared | V |
Entered the train and such a clang | H2 |
As then through all his turrets rang | H2 |
Old Norham never heard | V |
- | |
X | N |
- | |
The guards their morrice pikes advanced | V |
The trumpets flourished brave | A |
The cannon from the ramparts glanced | V |
And thundering welcome gave | A |
A blithe salute in martial sort | V |
The minstrels well might sound | V |
For as Lord Marmion crossed the court | V |
He scattered angels round | V |
Welcome to Norham Marmion | G2 |
Stout heart and open hand | V |
Well dost thou brook thy gallant roan | G2 |
Thou flower of English land | V |
- | |
XI | N |
- | |
Two pursuivants whom tabarts deck | I2 |
With silver scutcheon round their neck | I2 |
Stood on the steps of stone | G2 |
By which you reach the donjon gate | V |
And there with herald pomp and state | V |
They hailed Lord Marmion | G2 |
They hailed him Lord of Fontenaye | J2 |
Of Lutterward and Scrivelbaye | J2 |
Of Tamworth tower and town | G2 |
And he their courtesy to requite | V |
Gave them a chain of twelve marks' weight | V |
All as he lighted down | G2 |
Now largesse largesse Lord Marmion | G2 |
Knight of the crest of gold | V |
A blazoned shield in battle won | G2 |
Ne'er guarded heart so bold | V |
- | |
XII | N |
- | |
They marshalled him to the castle hall | R |
Where the guests stood all aside | V |
And loudly flourished the trumpet call | R |
And the heralds loudly cried | V |
Room lordlings room for Lord Marmion | G2 |
With the crest and helm of gold | V |
Full well we know the trophies won | G2 |
In the lists at Cottiswold | V |
There vainly Ralph de Wilton strove | A |
'Gainst Marmion's force to stand | V |
To him he lost his lady love | A |
And to the king his land | V |
Ourselves beheld the listed field | V |
A sight both sad and fair | A2 |
We saw Lord Marmion pierce his shield | V |
And saw his saddle bare | A2 |
We saw the victor win the crest | V |
He wears with worthy pride | V |
And on the gibbet tree reversed | V |
His foeman's scutcheon tied | V |
Place nobles for the Falcon Knight | V |
Room room ye gentles gay | F |
For him who conquered in the right | V |
Marmion of Fontenaye | J2 |
- | |
XIII | N |
- | |
Then stepped to meet that noble lord | V |
Sir Hugh the Heron bold | V |
Baron of Twisell and of Ford | V |
And captain of the hold | V |
He led Lord Marmion to the dais | N |
Raised o'er the pavement high | A |
And placed him in the upper place | N |
They feasted full and high | A |
The whiles a Northern harper rude | V |
Chanted a rhyme of deadly feud | V |
HOW THE FIERCE THIRWALLS AND RIDLEYS ALL | R |
STOUT WILLIMONDSWICK | F |
AND HARDRIDING DICK | F |
AND HUGHIE OF HAWDON AND WILL O' THE WALL | R |
HAVE SET ON SIR ALBANY FEATHERSTONHAUGH | G2 |
AND TAKEN HIS LIFE AT THE DEADMAN'S SHAW | K2 |
Scantly Lord Marmion's ear could brook | F |
The harper's barbarous lay | F |
Yet much he praised the pains he took | F |
And well those pains did pay | F |
For lady's suit and minstrel's strain | G2 |
By knight should ne'er be heard in vain | G2 |
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XIV | A |
- | |
Now good Lord Marmion Heron says | N |
Of your fair courtesy | N |
I pray you bide some little space | N |
In this poor tower with me | N |
Here may you keep your arms from rust | V |
May breathe your war horse well | R |
Seldom hath passed a week but just | V |
Or feat of arms befell | R |
The Scots can rein a mettled steed | V |
And love to couch a spear | A2 |
St George a stirring life they lead | V |
That have such neighbours near | A2 |
Then stay with us a little space | N |
Our Northern wars to learn | G2 |
I pray you for your lady's grace | N |
Lord Marmion's brow grew stern | G2 |
- | |
XV | A |
- | |
The captain marked his altered look | F |
And gave a squire the sign | G2 |
A mighty wassail bowl he took | F |
And crowned it high with wine | G2 |
Now pledge me here Lord Marmion | G2 |
But first I pray thee fair | A2 |
Where hast thou left that page of thine | G2 |
That used to serve thy cup of wine | G2 |
Whose beauty was so rare | A2 |
When last in Raby towers we met | V |
The boy I closely eyed | V |
And often marked his cheeks were wet | V |
With tears he fain would hide | V |
His was no rugged horse boy's hand | V |
To burnish shield or sharpen brand | V |
Or saddle battle steed | V |
But meeter seemed for lady fair | A2 |
To fan her cheek or curl her hair | A2 |
Or through embroidery rich and rare | A2 |
The slender silk to lead | V |
His skin was fair his ringlets gold | V |
His bosom when he sighed | V |
The russet doublet's rugged fold | V |
Could scarce repel its pride | V |
Say hast thou given that lovely youth | L2 |
To serve in lady's bower | A2 |
Or was the gentle page in sooth | L2 |
A gentle paramour | A2 |
- | |
XVI | A |
- | |
Lord Marmion ill could brook such jest | V |
He rolled his kindling eye | A |
With pain his rising wrath suppressed | V |
Yet made a calm reply | A |
That boy thou thought'st so goodly fair | A2 |
He might not brook the Northern air | A2 |
More of his fate if thou wouldst learn | G2 |
I left him sick in Lindisfarne | G2 |
Enough of him But Heron say | F |
Why does thy lovely lady gay | F |
Disdain to grace the hall to day | F |
Or has that dame so fair and sage | B2 |
Gone on some pious pilgrimage | M2 |
He spoke in covert scorn for fame | E2 |
Whispered light tales of Heron's dame | E2 |
- | |
XVII | A |
- | |
Unmarked at least unrecked the taunt | V |
Careless the knight replied | V |
No bird whose feathers gaily flaunt | V |
Delights in cage to bide | V |
Norham is grim and grated close | N |
Hemmed in by battlement and fosse | N |
And many a darksome tower | A2 |
And better loves my lady bright | V |
To sit in liberty and light | V |
In fair Queen Margaret's bower | A2 |
We hold our greyhound in our hand | V |
Our falcon on our glove | A |
But where shall we find leash or band | V |
For dame that loves to rove | A |
Let the wild falcon soar her swing | F |
She'll stoop when she has tired her wing | F |
- | |
XVIII | A |
- | |
Nay if with royal James's bride | V |
The lovely Lady Heron bide | V |
Behold me here a messenger | A2 |
Your tender greetings prompt to bear | A2 |
For to the Scottish court addressed | V |
I journey at our King's behest | V |
And pray you of your grace provide | V |
For me and mine a trusty guide | V |
I have not ridden in Scotland since | N |
James backed the cause of that mock prince | N |
Warbeck that Flemish counterfeit | V |
Who on the gibbet paid the cheat | V |
Then did I march with Surrey's power | A2 |
What time we razed old Ayton Tower | A2 |
- | |
XIX | N |
- | |
For such like need my lord I trow | A2 |
Norham can find you guides enow | G2 |
For here be some have pricked as far | A2 |
On Scottish ground as to Dunbar | A2 |
Have drunk the monks of St Bothan's ale | R |
And driven the beeves of Lauderdale | R |
Harried the wives of Greenlaw's goods | N |
And given them light to set their hoods | N |
- | |
XX | N |
- | |
Now in good sooth Lord Marmion cried | V |
Were I in warlike wise to ride | V |
A better guard I would not lack | F |
Than your stout forayers at my back | F |
But as in form of peace I go | A2 |
A friendly messenger to know | A2 |
Why through all Scotland near and far | A2 |
Their King is mustering troops for war | A2 |
The sight of plundering Border spears | N |
Might justify suspicious fears | N |
And deadly feud or thirst of spoil | R |
Break out in some unseemly broil | R |
A herald were my fitting guide | V |
Or friar sworn in peace to bide | V |
Or pardoner or travelling priest | V |
Or strolling pilgrim at the least | V |
- | |
XXI | N |
- | |
The captain mused a little space | N |
And passed his hand across his face | N |
Fain would I find the guide you want | V |
But ill may pursuivant | V |
The only men that safe can ride | V |
Mine errands on the Scottish side | V |
And though a bishop built this fort | V |
Few holy brethren here resort | V |
Even our good chaplain as I ween | A2 |
Since our last siege we have not seen | A2 |
The mass he might not sing or say | N |
Upon one stinted meal a day | N |
So safe he sat in Durham aisle | R |
And prayed for our success the while | R |
Our Norham vicar woe betide | V |
Is all too well in case to ride | V |
The priest of Shoreswood he could rein | A2 |
The wildest war horse in your train | A2 |
But then no spearman in the hall | R |
Will sooner swear or stab or brawl | R |
Friar John of Tillmouth were the man | A2 |
A blithesome brother at the can | A2 |
A welcome guest in hall and bower | A2 |
He knows each castle town and tower | A2 |
In which the wine and ale is good | V |
'Twixt Newcastle and Holyrood | V |
But that good man as ill befalls | N |
Hath seldom left our castle walls | N |
Since on the vigil of Saint Bede | V |
In evil hour he crossed the Tweed | V |
To teach Dame Alison her creed | V |
Old Bughtrig found him with his wife | A |
And John an enemy to strife | A |
Sans frock and hood fled for his life | A |
The jealous churl hath deeply swore | A2 |
That if again he venture o'er | A2 |
He shall shrive penitent no more | A2 |
Little he loves such risks I know | A2 |
Yet in your guard perchance will go | A2 |
- | |
XXII | N |
- | |
Young Selby at the fair hall board | V |
Carved to his uncle and that lord | V |
And reverently took up the word | V |
Kind uncle woe were we each one | A2 |
If harm should hap to brother John | A2 |
He is a man of mirthful speech | N2 |
Can many a game and gambol teach | N2 |
Full well at tables can he play | N |
And sweep at bowls the stake away | N |
None can a lustier carol bawl | R |
The needfullest among us all | R |
When time hangs heavy in the hall | R |
And snow comes thick at Christmas tide | V |
And we can neither hunt nor ride | V |
A foray on the Scottish side | V |
The vowed revenge of Bughtrig rude | V |
May end in worse than loss of hood | V |
Let Friar John in safety still | R |
In chimney corner snore his fill | R |
Roast hissing crabs or flagons swill | R |
Last night to Norham there came one | A2 |
Will better guide Lord Marmion | A2 |
Nephew quoth Heron by my fay | N |
Well hast thou spoke say forth thy say | N |
- | |
XXIII | N |
- | |
Here is a holy Palmer come | O2 |
From Salem first and last from Rome | P2 |
One that hath kissed the blessed tomb | Q2 |
And visited each holy shrine | A2 |
In Araby and Palestine | A2 |
On hills of Armenie hath been | A2 |
Where Noah's ark may yet be seen | A2 |
By that Red Sea too hath he trod | V |
Which parted at the prophet's rod | V |
In Sinai's wilderness he saw | N |
The Mount where Israel heard the law | N |
Mid thunder dint and flashing levin | A2 |
And shadows mists and darkness given | A2 |
He shows Saint James's cockle shell | R |
Of fair Montserrat too can tell | R |
And of that grot where olives nod | V |
Where darling of each heart and eye | A |
From all the youth of Sicily | N |
Saint Rosalie retired to God | V |
- | |
XXIV | N |
- | |
To stout Saint George of Norwich merry | N |
Saint Thomas too of Canterbury | N |
Cuthbert of Durham and Saint Bede | V |
For his sins' pardon hath he prayed | V |
He knows the passes of the North | L2 |
And seeks far shrines beyond the Forth | L2 |
Little he eats and long will wake | F |
And drinks but of the stream or lake | F |
This were a guide o'er moor and dale | R |
But when our John hath quaffed his ale | R |
As little as the wind that blows | N |
And warms itself against his nose | N |
Kens he or cares which way he goes | N |
- | |
XXV | N |
- | |
Gramercy quoth Lord Marmion | A2 |
Full loth were I that Friar John | A2 |
That venerable man for me | N |
Were placed in fear or jeopardy | N |
If this same Palmer will me lead | V |
From hence to Holyrood | V |
Like his good saint I'll pay his meed | V |
Instead of cockle shell or bead | V |
With angels fair and good | V |
I love such holy ramblers still | R |
They know to charm a weary hill | R |
With song romance or lay | N |
Some jovial tale or glee or jest | V |
Some lying legend at the least | V |
They bring to cheer the way | N |
- | |
XXVI | N |
- | |
Ah noble sir young Selby said | V |
And finger on his lip he laid | V |
This man knows much perchance e'en more | A2 |
Than he could learn by holy lore | A2 |
Still to himself he's muttering | F |
And shrinks as at some unseen thing | F |
Last night we listened at his cell | R |
Strange sounds we heard and sooth to tell | R |
He murmured on till morn howe'er | A2 |
No living mortal could be near | A2 |
Sometimes I thought I heard it plain | A2 |
As other voices spoke again | A2 |
I cannot tell I like it not | V |
Friar John hath told us it is wrote | V |
No conscience clear and void of wrong | F |
Can rest awake and pray so long | F |
Himself still sleeps before his beads | N |
Have marked ten aves and two creeds | N |
- | |
XXVII | N |
- | |
Let pass quoth Marmion by my fay | N |
This man shall guide me on my way | N |
Although the great arch fiend and he | N |
Had sworn themselves of company | N |
So please you gentle youth to call | R |
This Palmer to the castle hall | R |
The summoned Palmer came in place | N |
His sable cowl o'erhung his face | N |
In his black mantle was he clad | V |
With Peter's keys in cloth of red | V |
On his broad shoulders wrought | V |
The scallop shell his cap did deck | F |
The crucifix around his neck | F |
Was from Loretto brought | V |
His sandals were with travel tore | A2 |
Staff budget bottle scrip he wore | A2 |
The faded palm branch in his hand | V |
Showed pilgrim from the Holy Land | V |
- | |
XXVIII | N |
- | |
Whenas the Palmer came in hall | R |
Nor lord nor knight was there more tall | R |
Or had a statelier step withal | R |
Or looked more high and keen | A2 |
For no saluting did he wait | V |
But strode across the hall of state | V |
And fronted Marmion where he sate | V |
As he his peer had been | A2 |
But his gaunt frame was worn with toil | R |
His cheek was sunk alas the while | R |
And when he struggled at a smile | R |
His eye looked haggard wild | V |
Poor wretch the mother that him bare | A2 |
If she had been in presence there | A2 |
In his wan face and sun burned hair | A2 |
She had not known her child | V |
Danger long travel want or woe | A2 |
Soon change the form that best we know | A2 |
For deadly fear can time outgo | A2 |
And blanch at once the hair | A2 |
Hard toil can roughen form and face | N |
And want can quench the eye's bright grace | N |
Nor does old age a wrinkle trace | N |
More deeply than despair | A2 |
Happy whom none of these befall | R |
But this poor Palmer knew them all | R |
- | |
XXIX | N |
- | |
Lord Marmion then his boon did ask | F |
The Palmer took on him the task | F |
So he would march with morning tide | V |
To Scottish court to be his guide | V |
But I have solemn vows to pay | N |
And may not linger by the way | N |
To fair St Andrews bound | V |
Within the ocean cave to pray | N |
Where good Saint Rule his holy lay | N |
From midnight to the dawn of day | N |
Sung to the billows' sound | V |
Thence to Saint Fillan's blessed well | R |
Whose springs can frenzied dreams dispel | R |
And the crazed brain restore | A2 |
Saint Mary grant that cave or spring | F |
Could back to peace my bosom bring | F |
Or bid it throb no more | A2 |
- | |
XXX | N |
- | |
And now the midnight draught of sleep | B |
Where wine and spices richly steep | B |
In massive bowl of silver deep | B |
The page presents on knee | N |
Lord Marmion drank a fair good rest | V |
The captain pledged his noble guest | V |
The cup went through among the rest | V |
Who drained it merrily | N |
Alone the Palmer passed it by | A |
Though Selby pressed him courteously | N |
This was a sign the feast was o'er | A2 |
It hushed the merry wassail roar | A2 |
The minstrels ceased to sound | V |
Soon in the castle nought was heard | V |
But the slow footstep of the guard | V |
Pacing his sober round | V |
- | |
XXXI | N |
- | |
With early dawn Lord Marmion rose | N |
And first the chapel doors unclose | N |
Then after morning rites were done | A2 |
A hasty mass from Friar John | A2 |
And knight and squire had broke their fast | V |
On rich substantial repast | V |
Lord Marmion's bugles blew to horse | N |
Then came the stirrup cup in course | N |
Between the baron and his host | V |
No point of courtesy was lost | V |
High thanks were by Lord Marmion paid | V |
Solemn excuse the captain made | V |
Till filing from the gate had passed | V |
That noble train their lord the last | V |
Then loudly rung the trumpet call | N |
Thundered the cannon from the wall | N |
And shook the Scottish shore | A2 |
Around the castle eddied slow | N |
Volumes of smoke as white as snow | N |
And hid its turrets hoar | A2 |
Till they rolled forth upon the air | A2 |
And met the river breezes there | A2 |
Which gave again the prospect fair | A2 |
Walter Scott (sir)
(1)
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