Marmion Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AAABBCCDDEEBBFFGGHIJ JEE KKLCGGMMBBNNOOEEPPQQ RRGGSS PPTTUUVWIRXXRRYYIIYY ZZA2A2YYB2B2B2B2LLC2 C2RRHeap on more wood the wind is chill | A |
But let it whistle as it will | A |
We'll keep our Christmas merry still | A |
Each age has deem'd the new born year | B |
The fittest time for festal cheer | B |
Even heathen yet the savage Dane | C |
At Iol more deep the mead did drain | C |
High on the beach his galleys drew | D |
And feasted all his pirate crew | D |
Then in his low and pine built hall | E |
Where shields and axes deck'd the wall | E |
They gorged upon the half dress'd steer | B |
Caroused in seas of sable beer | B |
While round in brutal jest were thrown | F |
The half gnaw'd rib and marrow bone | F |
Or listen'd all in grim delight | G |
While Scalds yell'd out the joys of fight | G |
Then forth in frenzy would they hie | H |
While wildly loose their red locks fly | I |
And dancing round the blazing pile | J |
They make such barbarous mirth the while | J |
As best might to the mind recall | E |
The boisterous joys of Odin's hall | E |
- | |
And well our Christian sires of old | K |
Loved when the year its course had roll'd | K |
And brought blithe Christmas back again | L |
With all his hospitable train | C |
Domestic and religious rite | G |
Gave honour to the holy night | G |
On Christmas Eve the bells were rung | M |
On Christmas Eve the mass was sung | M |
That only night in all the year | B |
Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear | B |
The damsel donn'd her kirtle sheen | N |
The hall was dress'd with holly green | N |
Forth to the wood did merry men go | O |
To gather in the mistletoe | O |
Then open'd wide the Baron's hall | E |
To vassal tenant serf and all | E |
Power laid his rod of rule aside | P |
And Ceremony doff'd his pride | P |
The heir with roses in his shoes | Q |
That night might village partner choose | Q |
The Lord underogating share | R |
The vulgar game of 'post and pair' | R |
All hail'd with uncontroll'd delight | G |
And general voice the happy night | G |
That to the cottage as the crown | S |
Brought tidings of salvation down | S |
- | |
The fire with well dried logs supplied | P |
Went roaring up the chimney wide | P |
The huge hall table's oaken face | T |
Scrubb'd till it shone the day to grace | T |
Bore then upon its massive board | U |
No mark to part the squire and lord | U |
Then was brought in the lusty brawn | V |
By old blue coated serving man | W |
Then the grim boar's head frown'd on high | I |
Crested with bays and rosemary | R |
Well can the green garb'd ranger tell | X |
How when and where the monster fell | X |
What dogs before his death to tore | R |
And all the baiting of the boar | R |
The wassel round in good brown bowls | Y |
Garnish'd with ribbons blithely trowls | Y |
There the huge sirloin reek'd hard by | I |
Plum porridge stood and Christmas pie | I |
Nor fail'd old Scotland to produce | Y |
At such high tide her savoury goose | Y |
Then came the merry makers in | Z |
And carols roar'd with blithesome din | Z |
If unmelodious was the song | A2 |
It was a hearty note and strong | A2 |
Who lists may in their mumming see | Y |
Traces of ancient mystery | Y |
White shirts supplied the masquerade | B2 |
And smutted cheeks the visors made | B2 |
But O what maskers richly dight | B2 |
Can boast of bosoms half so light | B2 |
England was merry England when | L |
Old Christmas brought his sports again | L |
'Twas Christmas broach'd the mightiest ale | C2 |
'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale | C2 |
A Christmas gambol oft could cheer | R |
The poor man's heart through half the year | R |
Walter Scott (sir)
(2)
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