Rokeby: Canto Iii. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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I	A
The hunting tribes of air and earth	B
Respect the brethren of their birth	B
Nature who loves the claim of kind	C
Less cruel chase to each assign'd	C
The falcon poised on soaring wing	D
Watches the wild duck by the spring	D
The slow hound wakes the fox's lair	E
The greyhound presses on the hare	E
The eagle pounces on the lamb	F
The wolf devours the fleecy dam	F
Even tiger fell and sullen bear	E
Their likeness and their lineage spare	E
Man only mars kind Nature's plan	G
And turns the fierce pursuit on man	G
Plying war's desultory trade	H
Incursion flight and ambuscade	H
Since Nimrod Cush's mighty son	I
At first the bloody game begun	I
	-
II	A
The Indian prowling for his prey	J
Who hears the settlers track his way	J
And knows in distant forest far	K
Camp his red brethren of the war	L
He when each double and disguise	M
To baffle the pursuit he tries	M
Low crouching now his head to hide	H
Where swampy streams through rushes glide	H
Now covering with the wither'd leaves	N
The foot prints that the dew receives	N
He skill'd in every sylvan guile	O
Knows not nor tries such various wile	O
As Risingham when on the wind	H
Arose the loud pursuit behind	H
In Redesdale his youth had heard	H
Each art her wily dalesmen dared	H
When Rooken edge and Redswair high	A
To bugle rung and bloodhound's cry	A
Announcing Jedwood axe and spear	P
And Lid'sdale riders in the rear	P
And well his venturous life had proved	H
The lessons that his childhood loved	H
	-
III	A
Oft had he shown in climes afar	K
Each attribute of roving war	L
The sharpen'd ear the piercing eye	A
The quick resolve in danger nigh	A
The speed that in the flight or chase	Q
Outstripp'd the Charib's rapid race	Q
The steady brain the sinewy limb	R
To leap to climb to dive to swim	R
The iron frame inured to bear	E
Each dire inclemency of air	E
Nor less confirm'd to undergo	S
Fatigue's faint chill and famine's throe	E
These arts he proved his life to save	T
In peril oft by land and wave	T
On Arawaca's desert shore	E
Or where La Plata's billows roar	E
When oft the sons of vengeful Spain	U
Track'd the marauder's steps in vain	U
These arts in Indian warfare tried	H
Must save him now by Greta's side	H
	-
IV	T
'Twas then in hour of utmost need	H
He proved his courage art and speed	H
Now slow he stalk'd with stealthy pace	Q
Now started forth in rapid race	Q
Oft doubling back in mazy train	U
To blind the trace the dews retain	U
Now clombe the rocks projecting high	T
To baffle the pursuer's eye	T
Now sought the stream whose brawling sound	H
The echo of his footsteps drown'd	H
But if the forest verge he nears	V
There trample steeds and glimmer spears	V
If deeper down the copse he drew	E
He heard the rangers' loud halloo	O
Beating each cover while they came	W
As if to start the sylvan game	W
Twas then like tiger close beset	H
At every pass with toil and net	H
Counter'd where'er he turns his glare	E
By clashing arms and torches' flare	E
Who meditates with furious bound	H
To burst on hunter horse and hound	H
'Twas then that Bertram's soul arose	X
Prompting to rush upon his foes	X
But as that crouching tiger cow'd	H
By brandish'd steel and shouting crowd	H
Retreats beneath the jungle's shroud	H
Bertram suspends his purpose stern	Y
And couches in the brake and fern	Y
Hiding his face lest foemen spy	T
The sparkle of his swarthy eye	T
	-
V	T
Then Bertram might the bearing trace	Q
Of the bold youth who led the chase	Q
Who paused to list for every sound	H
Climb'd every height to look around	H
Then rushing on with naked sword	H
Each dingle's bosky depths explored	H
'Twas Redmond by the azure eye	T
'Twas Redmond by the locks that fly	T
Disorder'd from his glowing cheek	Z
Mien face and form young Redmond speak	Z
A form more active light and strong	A2
Ne'er shot the ranks of war along	A2
The modest yet the manly mien	B2
Might grace the court of maiden queen	B2
A face more fair you well might find	H
For Redmond's knew the sun and wind	H
Nor boasted from their tinge when free	T
The charm of regularity	T
But every feature had the power	E
To aid the expression of the hour	E
Whether gay wit and humour sly	T
Danced laughing in his light blue eye	T
Or bended brow and glance of fire	E
And kindling cheek spoke Erin's ire	E
Or soft and sadden'd glances show	S
Her ready sympathy with woe	S
Or in that wayward mood of mind	H
When various feelings are combined	H
When joy and sorrow mingle near	E
And hope's bright wings are check'd by fear	E
And rising doubts keep transport down	C2
And anger lends a short lived frown	C2
In that strange mood which maids approve	T
Even when they dare not call it love	T
With every change his features play'd	H
As aspens show the light and shade	H
	-
VI	T
Well Risingham young Redmond knew	E
And much he marvell'd that the crew	E
Roused to revenge bold Mortham dead	H
Were by that Mortham's foeman led	H
For never felt his soul the woe	S
That wails a generous foeman low	S
Far less that sense of justice strong	A2
That wreaks a generous foeman's wrong	A2
But small his leisure now to pause	D2
Redmond is first whate'er the cause	E2
And twice that Redmond came so near	E
Where Bertram couch'd like hunted deer	E
The very boughs his steps displace	Q
Rustled against the ruffian's face	Q
Who desperate twice prepared to start	H
And plunge his dagger in his heart	H
But Redmond turn'd a different way	J
And the bent boughs resumed their sway	J
And Bertram held it wise unseen	B2
Deeper to plunge in coppice green	B2
Thus circled in his coil the snake	F2
When roving hunters beat the brake	F2
Watches with red and glistening eye	T
Prepared if heedless step draw nigh	T
With forked tongue and venom'd fang	G2
Instant to dart the deadly pang	G2
But if the intruders turn aside	H
Away his coils unfolded glide	H
And through the deep savannah wind	H
Some undisturb'd retreat to find	H
	-
VII	T
But Bertram as he backward drew	E
And heard the loud pursuit renew	E
And Redmond's hollo on the wind	H
Oft mutterd in his savage mind	H
Redmond O'Neale were thou and I	T
Alone this day's event to try	T
With not a second here to see	T
But the gray cliff and oaken tree	T
That voice of thine that shouts so loud	H
Should ne'er repeat its summons proud	H
No nor e'er try its melting power	E
Again in maiden's summer bower	E
Eluded now behind him die	T
Faint and more faint each hostile cry	T
He stands in Scargill wood alone	H2
Nor hears he now a harsher tone	H2
Than the hoarse cushat's plaintive cry	T
Or Greta's sound that murmurs by	T
And on the dale so lone and wild	H
The summer sun in quiet smiled	H
	-
VIII	T
He listen'd long with anxious heart	H
Ear bent to hear and foot to start	H
And while his stretch'd attention glows	X
Refused his weary frame repose	X
'Twas silence all he laid him down	C2
Where purple heath profusely strown	C2
And throatwort with its azure bell	O
And moss and thyme his cushion swell	O
There spent with toil he listless eyed	H
The course of Greta's playful tide	H
Beneath her banks now edding dun	C2
Now brightly gleaming to the sun	C2
As dancing over rock and stone	C2
In yellow light her currents shone	C2
Matching in hue the favourite gem	I2
Of Albin's mountain diadem	I2
Then tired to watch the current's play	J
He turn'd his weary eyes away	J
To where the bank opposing show'd	H
Its huge square cliffs through shaggy wood	H
One prominent above the rest	H
Rear'd to the sun its pale gray breast	H
Around its broken summit grew	E
The hazel rude and sable yew	E
A thousand varied lichens dyed	H
Its waste and weather beaten side	H
And round its rugged basis lay	J
By time or thunder rent away	J
Fragments that from its frontlet torn	C2
Were mantled now by verdant thorn	C2
Such was the scene's wild majesty	T
That fill'd stern Bertram's gazing eye	T
	-
IX	X
In sullen mood he lay reclined	H
Revolving in his stormy mind	H
The felon deed the fruitless guilt	H
His patron's blood by treason spilt	H
A crime it seem'd so dire and dread	H
That it had power to wake the dead	H
Then pondering on his life betray'd	H
By Oswald's art to Redmond's blade	H
In treacherous purpose to withhold	H
So seem'd it Mortham's promised gold	H
A deep and full revenge he vow'd	H
On Redmond forward fierce and proud	H
Revenge on Wilfrid on his sire	E
Redoubled vengeance swift and dire	E
If in such mood as legends say	X
And well believed that simple day	X
The enemy of Man has power	E
To profit by the evil hour	E
Here stood a wretch prepared to change	J2
His soul's redemption for revenge	K2
But though his vows with such a fire	E
Of earnest and intense desire	E
For vengeance dark and fell were made	H
As well might reach hell's lowest shade	H
No deeper clouds the grove embrown'd	H
No nether thunders shook the ground	H
The demon knew his vassal's heart	H
And spared temptation's needless art	H
	-
X	X
Oft mingled with the direful theme	L2
Came Mortham's form Was it a dream	L2
Or had he seen in vision true	E
That very Mortham whom he slew	E
Or had in living flesh appear'd	H
The only man on earth he fear'd	H
To try the mystic cause intent	H
His eyes that on the cliff were bent	H
Counter'd at once a dazzling glance	X
Like sunbeam flash'd from sword or lance	X
At once he started as for fight	H
But not a foeman was in sight	H
He heard the cushat's murmur hoarse	X
He heard the river's sounding course	X
The solitary woodlands lay	X
As slumbering in the summer ray	X
He gazed like lion roused around	H
Then sunk again upon the ground	H
Twas but he thought some fitful beam	L2
Glanced sudden from the sparkling stream	L2
Then plunged him in his gloomy train	C2
Of ill connected thoughts again	C2
Until a voice behind him cried	H
Bertram well met on Greta side	H
	-
XI	X
Instant his sword was in his hand	H
As instant sunk the ready brand	H
Yet dubious still opposed he stood	H
To him that issued from the wood	H
Guy Denzil is it thou he said	H
Do we two meet in Scargill shade	H
Stand back a space thy purpose show	S
Whether thou comest as friend or foe	S
Report hath said that Denzil's name	W
From Rokeby's band was razed with shame	W
A shame I owe that hot O'Neale	O
Who told his knight in peevish zeal	O
Of my marauding on the clowns	X
Of Calverley and Bradford downs	X
I reck not In a war to strive	T
Where save the leaders none can thrive	T
Suits ill my mood and better game	W
Awaits us both if thou'rt the same	W
Unscrupulous bold Risingham	W
Who watch'd with me in midnight dark	M2
To snatch a deer from Rokeby park	M2
How think'st thou Speak thy purpose out	H
I love not mystery or doubt	H
	-
XII	X
Then list Not far there lurk a crew	E
Of trusty comrades stanch and true	E
Glean'd from both factions Roundheads freed	H
From cant of sermon and of creed	H
And Cavaliers whose souls like mine	C2
Spurn at the bonds of discipline	C2
Wiser we judge by dale and wold	H
A warfare of our own to hold	H
Than breathe our last on battle down	C2
For cloak or surplice mace or crown	C2
Our schemes are laid our purpose set	H
A chief and leader lack we yet	H
Thou art a wanderer it is said	H
For Mortham's death thy steps waylaid	H
Thy head at price so say our spies	X
Who range the valley in disguise	X
Join then with us though wild debate	H
And wrangling rend our infant state	H
Each to an equal loath to bow	N2
Will yield to chief renown'd as thou	N2
	-
XI I	T
Even now thought Bertram passion stirr'd	H
I call'd on hell and hell has heard	H
What lack I vengeance to command	H
But of stanch comrades such a band	H
This Denzil vow'd to every evil	O
Might read a lesson to the devil	O
Well be it so each knave and fool	O
Shall serve as my revenge's tool	O
Aloud I take thy proffer Guy	T
But tell me where thy comrades lie	T
Not far from hence Guy Denzil said	H
Descend and cross the river's bed	H
Where rises yonder cliff so grey	X
Do thou said Bertram lead the way	X
Then mutter'd It is best make sure	E
Guy Denzil's faith was never pure	E
He follow'd down the deep descent	H
Then through the Greta's streams they went	H
And when they reach'd the farther shore	E
They stood the lonely cliff before	E
	-
XIV	T
With wonder Bertram heard within	C2
The flinty rock a murmur'd din	C2
But when Guy pull'd the wilding spray	X
And brambles from its base away	X
He saw appearing to the air	E
A little entrance low and square	E
Like opening cell of hermit lone	C2
Dark winding through the living stone	C2
Here enter'd Denzil Bertram here	E
And loud and louder on their ear	E
As from the bowels of the earth	B
Resounded shouts of boisterous mirth	B
Of old the cavern strait and rude	H
In slaty rock the peasant hew'd	H
And Brignall's woods and Scargill's wave	T
E'en now o'er many a sister cave	T
Where far within the darksome rift	H
The wedge and lever ply their thrift	H
But war had silenced rural trade	H
And the deserted mine was made	H
The banquet hall and fortress too	H
Of Denzil and his desperate crew	H
There Guilt his anxious revel kept	H
There on his sordid pallet slept	H
Guilt born Excess the goblet drain'd	H
Still in his slumbering grasp retain'd	H
Regret was there his eye still cast	H
With vain repining on the past	H
Among the feasters waited near	E
Sorrow and unrepentant Fear	E
And Blasphemy to frenzy driven	C2
With his own crimes reproaching heaven	C2
While Bertram show'd amid the crew	H
The Master Fiend that Milton drew	H
	-
XV	T
Hark the loud revel wakes again	C2
To greet the leader of the train	C2
Behold the group by the pale lamp	O2
That struggles with the earthy damp	O2
By what strange features Vice hath known	C2
To single out and mark her own	C2
Yet some there are whose brows retain	C2
Less deeply stamp'd her brand and stain	C2
See yon pale stripling when a boy	P2
A mother's pride a father's joy	P2
Now 'gainst the vault's rude walls reclined	H
An early image fills his mind	H
The cottage once his sire's he sees	X
Embower'd upon the banks of Tees	X
He views sweet Winston's woodland scene	C2
And shares the dance on Gainford green	C2
A tear is springing but the zest	H
Of some wild tale or brutal jest	H
Hath to loud laughter stirr'd the rest	H
On him they call the aptest mate	H
For jovial song and merry feat	H
Fast flies his dream with dauntless air	E
As one victorious o'er Despair	E
He bids the ruddy cup go round	H
Till sense and sorrow both are drown'd	H
And soon in merry wassail he	X
The life of all their revelry	X
Peals his loud song The muse has found	H
Her blossoms on the wildest ground	H
Mid noxious weeds at random strew'd	H
Themselves all profitless and rude	H
With desperate merriment he sung	Q2
The cavern to the chorus rung	Q2
Yet mingled with his reckless glee	X
Remorse's bitter agony	X
	-
XVI	T
SONG	A2
	-
O Brignall banks are wild and fair	E
And Greta woods are green	C2
And you may gather garlands there	E
Would grace a summer queen	C2
And as I rode by Dalton hall	O
Beneath the turrets high	T
A Maiden on the castle wall	O
Was singing merrily	X
	-
CHORUS	X
O Brignall banks are fresh and fair	E
And Greta woods are green	C2
I'd rather rove with Edmund there	E
Than reign our English queen	C2
	-
If Maiden thou wouldst wend with me	X
To leave both tower and town	C2
Thou first must guess what life lead we	X
That dwell by dale and down	C2
And if thou canst that riddle read	H
As read full well you may	X
Then to the greenwood shalt thou speed	H
As blithe as Queen of May	X
	-
CHORUS	X
Yet sung she Brignall banks are fair	E
And Greta woods are green	C2
I'd rather rove with Edmund there	E
Than reign our English queen	C2
	-
XVII	T
I read you by your bugle horn	C2
And by your palfrey good	H
I read you for a Ranger sworn	C2
To keep the king's greenwood	H
A ranger lady winds his horn	C2
And 'tis at peep of light	H
His blast is heard at merry morn	C2
And mine at dead of night	H
	-
CHORUS	X
Yet sung she Brignall banks are fair	E
And Greta woods are gay	X
I would I were with Edmund there	E
To reign his Queen of May	X
	-
With burnish'd brand and musketoon	C2
So gallantly you come	W
I read you for a bold Dragoon	C2
That lists the tuck of drum	W
I list no more the tuck of drum	W
No more the trumpet hear	E
But when the beetle sounds his hum	W
My comrades take the spear	E
	-
CHORUS	X
And O though Brignall banks be fair	E
And Greta woods be gay	X
Yet mickle must the maiden dare	E
Would reign my Queen of May	X
	-
XV II	T
Maiden a nameless life I lead	H
A nameless death I'll die	T
The fiend whose lantern lights the mead	H
Were better mate than I	T
And when I'm with my comrades met	H
Beneath the reenwood bough	N2
What once we were we all forget	H
Nor think what we are now	N2
	-
CHORUS	X
Yet Brignall banks are fresh and fair	E
And Greta woods are green	C2
And you may gather garlands there	E
Would grace a summer queen	C2
	-
When Edmund ceased his simple song	A2
Was silence on the sullen throng	A2
Till waked some ruder mate their glee	X
With note of coarser minstrelsy	X
But far apart in dark divan	C2
Denzil and Bertram many a plan	C2
Of import foul and fierce design'd	H
While still on Bertram's grasping mind	H
The wealth of murder'd Mortham hung	Q2
Though half he fear'd his daring tongue	Q2
When it should give his wishes birth	B
Might raise a spectre from the earth	B
	-
XIX	X
At length his wondrous tale he told	H
When scornful smiled his comrade bold	H
For train'd in license of a court	H
Religion's self was Denzil's sport	H
Then judge in what contempt he held	H
The visionary tales of eld	H
His awe for Bertram scarce repress'd	H
The unbeliever's sneering jest	H
'Twere hard he said for sage or seer	E
To spell the subject of your fear	E
Nor do I boast the art renown'd	H
Vision and omen to expound	H
Yet faith if I must needs afford	H
To spectre watching treasured hoard	H
As bandog keeps his master's roof	T
Bidding the plunderer stand aloof	T
This doubt remains thy goblin gaunt	H
Hath chosen ill his ghostly haunt	H
For why his guard on Mortham hold	H
When Rokeby castle hath the gold	H
Thy patron won on Indian soil	O
By stealth by piracy and spoil	O
	-
XX	X
At this he paused for angry shame	W
Lower'd on the brow of Risingham	W
He blush'd to think that he should seem	W
Assertor of an airy dream	W
And gave his wrath another theme	W
Denzil he says though lowly laid	H
Wrong not the memory of the dead	H
For while he lived at Mortham's look	R2
Thy very soul Guy Denzil shook	R2
And when he tax'd thy breach of word	H
To yon fair Rose of Allenford	H
I saw thee crouch like chasten'd hound	H
Whose back the huntsman's lash hath found	H
Nor dare to call his foreign wealth	S2
The spoil of piracy or stealth	S2
He won it bravely with his brand	H
When Spain waged warfare with our land	H
Mark too I brook no idle jeer	E
Nor couple Bertram's name with fear	E
Mine is but half the demon's lot	H
For I believe but tremble not	H
Enough of this Say why this hoard	H
Thou deem'st at Rokeby castle stored	H
Or think'st that Mortham would bestow	H
His treasure with his faction's foe	H
	-
XXI	X
Soon quench'd was Denzil's ill timed mirth	B
Rather he would have seen the earth	B
Give to ten thousand spectres birth	B
Than venture to awake to flame	W
The deadly wrath of Risingham	W
Submiss he answer'd Mortham's mind	H
Thou know'st to joy was ill inclined	H
In youth 'tis said a gallant free	X
A lusty reveller was he	X
But since return'd from over sea	X
A sullen and a silent mood	H
Hath numb'd the current of his blood	H
Hence he refused each kindly call	O
To Rokeby's hospitable hall	O
And our stout knight at dawn of morn	C2
Who loved to hear the bugle horn	C2
Nor less when eve his oaks embrown'd	H
To see the ruddy cup go round	H
Took umbrage that a friend so near	E
Refused to share his chase and cheer	E
Thus did the kindred barons jar	E
Ere they divided in the war	E
Yet trust me friend Matilda fair	E
Of Mortham's wealth is destined heir	E
	-
XXII	X
Destined to her to yon slight maid	H
The prize my life had wellnigh paid	H
When 'gainst Laroche by Cayo's wave	T
I fought my patron's wealth to save	T
Denzil I knew him long yet ne'er	E
Knew him that joyous cavalier	E
Whom youthful friends and early fame	W
Call'd soul of gallantry and game	W
A moody man he sought our crew	H
Desperate and dark whom no one knew	H
And rose as men with us must rise	X
By scorning life and all its ties	X
On each adventure rash he roved	H
As danger for itself he loved	H
On his sad brow nor mirth nor wine	C2
Could e'er one wrinkled knot untwine	C2
Ill was the omen if he smiled	H
For 'twas in peril stern and wild	H
But when he laugh'd each luckless mate	H
Might hold our fortune desperate	H
Foremost he fought in every broil	O
Then scornful turn'd him from the spoil	O
Nay often strove to bar the way	X
Between his comrades and their prey	X
Preaching even then to such as we	X
Hot with our dear bought victory	X
Of mercy and humanity	X
	-
XXIII	X
I loved him well His fearless part	H
His gallant leading won my heart	H
And after each victorious fight	H
'Twas I that wrangled for his right	H
Redeem'd his portion of the prey	X
That greedier mates had torn away	X
In field and storm thrice saved his life	T
And once amid our comrades' strife	T
Yes I have loved thee Well hath proved	H
My toil my danger how I loved	H
Yet will I mourn no more thy fate	H
Ingrate in life in death ingrate	H
Rise if thou canst he look'd around	H
And sternly stamp'd upon the ground	H
Rise with thy bearing proud and high	T
Even as this morn it met mine eye	T
And give me if thou darest the lie	T
He paused then calm and passion freed	H
Bade Denzil with his tale proceed	H
	-
XXIV	T
Bertram to thee I need not tell	O
What thou hast cause to wot so well	O
How Superstition's nets were twined	H
Around the Lord of Mortham's mind	H
But since he drove thee from his tower	E
A maid he found in Greta's bower	E
Whose speech like David's harp had sway	X
To charm his evil fiend away	X
I know not if her features moved	H
Remembrance of the wife he loved	H
But he would gaze upon her eye	T
Till his mood soften'd to a sigh	T
He whom no living mortal sought	H
To question of his secret thought	H
Now every thought and care confess'd	H
To his fair niece's faithful breast	H
Nor was there aught of rich and rare	E
In earth in ocean or in air	E
But it must deck Matilda's hair	E
Her love still bound him unto life	T
But then awoke the civil strife	T
And menials bore by his commands	X
Three coffers with their iron bands	X
From Mortham's vault at midnight deep	T2
To her lone bower in Rokeby Keep	T2
Ponderous with gold and plate of pride	H
His gift if he in battle died	H
	-
XXV	T
Then Denzil as I guess lays train	C2
These iron banded chests to gain	C2
Else wherefore should he hover here	E
Where many a peril waits him near	E
For all his feats of war and peace	X
For plunder'd boors and harts of greese	X
Since through the hamlets as he fared	H
What hearth has Guy's marauding spared	H
Or where the chase that hath not rung	Q2
With Denzil's bow at midnight strung	Q2
I hold my wont my rangers go	H
Even now to track a milk white doe	H
By Rokeby hall she takes her lair	E
In Greta wood she harbours fair	E
And when my huntsman marks her way	X
What think'st thou Bertram of the prey	X
Were Rokeby's daughter in our power	E
We rate her ransom at her dower	E
	-
XXVI	T
Tis well there's vengeance in the thought	H
Matilda is by Wilfrid sought	H
And hot brain'd Redmond too 'tis said	H
Pays lover's homage to the maid	H
Bertram she scorn'd If met by chance	X
She turn'd from me her shuddering glance	X
Like a nice dame that will not brook	R2
On what she hates and loathes to look	R2
She told to Mortham she could ne'er	E
Behold me without secret fear	E
Foreboding evil She may rue	H
To find her prophecy fall true	H
The war has weeded Rokeby's train	C2
Few followers in his halls remain	C2
If thy scheme miss then brief and bold	H
We are enow to storm the hold	H
Bear off the plunder and the dame	W
And leave the castle all in flame	W
	-
XXVII	T
Still art thou Valour's venturous son	C2
Yet ponder first the risk to run	C2
The menials of the castle true	H
And stubborn to their charge though few	H
The wall to scale the moat to cross	X
The wicket grate the inner fosse	X
Fool if we blench for toys like these	X
On what fair guerdon can we seize	X
Our hardiest venture to explore	E
Some wretched peasant's fenceless door	E
And the best prize we bear away	X
The earnings of his sordid day	X
A while thy hasty taunt forbear	E
In sight of road more sure and fair	E
Thou wouldst not choose in blindfold wrath	U2
Or wantonness a desperate path	U2
List then for vantage or assault	H
From gilded vane to dungeon vault	H
Each pass of Rokeby house I know	H
There is one postern dark and low	H
That issues at a secret spot	H
By most neglected or forgot	H
Now could a spial of our train	C2
On fair pretext admittance gain	C2
That sally port might be unbarr'd	H
Then vain were battlement and ward	H
	-
XXVIII	H
Now speak'st thou well to me the same	W
If force or art shall urge the game	W
Indifferent if like fox I wind	H
Or spring like tiger on the hind	H
But hark our merry men so gay	X
Troll forth another roundelay	H
	-
SONG	A2
A weary lot is thine fair maid	H
A weary lot is thine	C2
To pull the thorn thy brow to braid	H
And press the rue for wine	C2
A lightsome eye a soldier's mien	C2
A feather of the blue	H
A doublet of the Lincoln green	C2
No more of me you knew	H
My love	H
No more of me you knew	H
	-
This morn is merry June I trow	H
The rose is budding fain	C2
But she shall bloom in winter snow	H
Ere we two meet again	C2
He turn'd his charger as he spake	F2
Upon the river shore	E
He gave his bridle reins a shake	F2
Said Adieu for evermore	E
My love	H
And adieu for evermore	E
	-
XXIX	X
What youth is this your band among	Q2
The best for minstrelsy and song	A2
In his wild notes seem aptly met	H
A strain of pleasure and regret	H
Edmund of Winston is his name	W
The hamlet sounded with the fane	C2
Of early hopes his childhood gave	H
Now center'd all in Brignall cave	H
I watch him well his wayward course	X
Shows oft a tincture of remorse	X
Some early love shaft grazed his heart	H
And oft the scar will ache and smart	H
Yet is he useful of the rest	H
By fits the darling and the jest	H
His harp his story and his lay	H
Oft aid the idle hours away	H
When unemploy'd each fiery mate	H
Is ripe for mutinous debate	H
He tuned his strings e'en now again	C2
He wakes them with a blither strain	C2
	-
	-
XXX	X
Song Allen a Dale	H
	-
Allen a Dale has no fagot for burning	D
Allen a Dale has no furrow for turning	D
Allen a Dale has no fleece for the spinning	D
Yet Allen a Dale has red gold for the winning	D
Come read me my riddle come hearken my tale	H
And tell me the craft of bold Allen a Dale	H
	-
The Baron of Ravensworth prances in pride	H
And he views his domains upon Arkindale side	H
The mere for his net and the land for his game	W
The chase for the wild and the park for the tame	W
Yet the fish of the lake and the deer of the vale	H
Are less free to Lord Dacre than Allen a Dale	H
	-
Allen a Dale was ne'er belted a knight	H
Though his spur be as sharp and his blade be as bright	H
Allen a Dale is no baron or lord	H
Yet twenty tall yeomen will draw at his word	H
And the best of our nobles his bonnet will vail	H
Who at Rere cross on Stanimore meets Allen aDale	H
	-
Allen a Dale to his wooing is come	W
The mother she ask'd of his household and home	W
Though the castle of Richmond stands fair on the hill	H
My hall quoth bold Allen shows gallanter still	H
'Tis the blue vault of heaven with its crescent so pale	H
And with all its bright spangles said Allen a Dale	H
	-
The father was steel and the mother was stone	C2
They lifted the latch and they bade him be gone	C2
But loud on the morrow their wail and their cry	E
He had laugh'd on the lass with his bonny black eye	E
And she fled to the forest to hear a love tale	H
And the youth it was told by was Allen a Dale	H
	-
XXXI	X
Thou see'st that whether sad or gay	H
Love mingles ever in his lay	H
But when his boyish wayward fit	H
Is o'er he hath address and wit	H
O 'tis a brain of fire can ape	V2
Each dialect each various shape	V2
Nay then to aid thy project Guy	E
Soft who comes here My trusty spy	E
Speak Hamlin hast thou lodged our deer	E
I have but two fair stags are near	E
I watch'd her as she slowly stray'd	H
From Eglistone up Thorsgill glade	H
But Wilfrid Wycliffe sought her side	H
And then young Redmond in his pride	H
Shot down to meet them on their way	H
Much as it seem'd was theirs to say	H
There's time to pitch both toil and net	H
Before their path be homeward set	H
A hurried and a whisper'd speech	W2
Did Bertram's will to Denzil teach	W2
Who turning to the robber band	H
Bade four the bravest take the brand	H

Walter Scott (sir)

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