Rokeby: Canto Vi. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABBCCDDAAEEDDBBCCFFG GHHIIJJKKLLMMNNOO APPQQRRSSTTUUAAVVWWX XSSYYGG ADDZZA2A2B2C2RRD2D2E 2E2WWGGF2F2G2G2FFH2H 2I2I2 XYYJ2J2K2JL2L2M2M2A2 A2RRN2N2I2I2K2K2O2O2 O2O2E2E2MM XP2P2XP2O2O2P2P2O2O2 I2BN2Q2O2O2R2R2VVRRP PO2O2O2O2O2O2 XS2T2E2E2O2O2CCO2O2Q 2N2U2U2O2O2O2P2P2O2O 2XXE2E2XXV2V2W2W2X2V 2BBBN2O2O2 XBE2O2O2P2P2 PP2P2XXO2 Y2WP2P2O2O2XXX XO2O2O2O2 NO2O2NNZ2DA3A3T2T2E2 E2O2O2O2O2B3B3 XF2F2N2I2O2O2C3C3O2O 2BE2E2XXXXD3D3B3B3A3 A3PPO2O2V2V2N2N2E3E3 XO2O2O2O2XXO2O2E3E3O 2O2D3D3PI2A3A3O2O2F3 F3XE3RRO2O2RR E3A3A3O2O2E3E3O2O2VV RRF2F2XX BE3E3XXE3E3O2O2O2O2P PE3E3 XO2O2PPO2O2PPSSI2I2W 2W2E3E3N2N2O2O2I2I2E 3E3 XRRXXXXSSE3E3O2O2HHE 3E3O2O2O2RRO2O2I2I2R RO2O2XXL2L2SL2 XO2O2O2O2L2L2W2W2O2O 2BE2E3E3E3L2L2 XI2I2O2O2O2O2E3E3W2W 2PPXXXXXXO2O2O2T2T2O 2O2XX XSSE3E3I2I2L2L2XXRRO 2O2XXE3E3O2O2E3E3O2 L2L2I2BI2I2E2BL2 XO2O2XXO2O2O2O2XXXXO 2O2L2L2O2O2O2O2O2O2G 3G3O2O2 XO2O2I2I2XXE3E3XXRRP PO2O2E3E3O2O2XXXXO2O 2 XH3H3O2O2O2O2PPO2O2R RO2O2E3E3CCO2O2O2O2X XL2L2E3E3O2O2XXRRO2O 2O2O2O2O2 O2O2O2 XI3XPPE3E3XXE3E3O2O2 XXL2L2PPE3E3O2O2O2O2 O2O2 XXJ3O2O2E3E3E3E3O2O2 XO2O2O2O2O2O2O2O2O2X XRRE3E3 XE3E3O2O2E3E3O2O2O2O 2O2O2L2L2G3G3O2O2XXO 2O2O2O2O2O2E3E3O2O2 XO2O2O2O2PPO2O2XXE3E 3PPE3E3O2O2O2O2O2O2E 3E3E3E3O2O2O2O2O2O2O 2O2O2O2XX XO2O2O2O2E3E3XXXXE3E 3O2O2O2O2 XXXO2O2XO2O2O2O2O2E3 E3O2O2O2O2XO2O2O2XXO 2O2RRPPO2O2O2O2E3E3 XO2O2O2O2K3K3PPO2O2O 2XO2O2E3E3O2O2L3M3O2 O2XXO2O2O2O2O2O2XXPP XO2O2O2O2O2O2O2O2O2O 2O2O2XXM3M3O2O2O2O2E 3E3O2O2O2O2 XO2O2E3E3O2O2O2O2XXX XO2XE3E3XXO2O2RRO2O2 O2O2W2W2O2O2E3E3 XO2O2PPE3E3E3E3XXO2O 2O2O2E3E3O2O2O2O2E3E 3O2O2O2O2 XO2O2E3E3O2O2O2O2O2O 2O2O2O2O2O2O2O2O2RRE 3E3O2O2 XO2O2O2O2O2O2E3E3RRO 2O2O2O2XXRRPPXXO2O2O 2O2O2O2PP XXXO2O2O2O2O2O2XXXXO 2O2XXO2O2H3H3XXE3E3X XE3E3O2O2O2O2O2O2O2O 2 XRRPPO2O2XXE3E3XXO2O 2O2O2O2O2E3E3 XE3E3O2O2O2O2XXO2O2O 2O2O2O2XXO2O2XXO2O2O 2O2O2

I	A
The summer sun whose early power	B
Was wont to gild Matilda's bower	B
And rouse her with his matin ray	C
Her duteous orisons to pay	C
That morning sun has three times seen	D
The flowers unfold on Rokeby green	D
But sees no more the slumbers fly	A
From fair Matilda's hazel eye	A
That morning sun has three times broke	E
On Rokeby's glades of elm and oak	E
But rising from their sylvan screen	D
Marks no grey turrets' glance between	D
A shapeless mass lie keep and tower	B
That hissing to the morning shower	B
Can but with smouldering vapour pay	C
The early smile of summer day	C
The peasant to his labour bound	F
Pauses to view the blacken'd mound	F
Striving amid the ruin'd space	G
Each well remember'd spot to trace	G
That length of frail and fire scorch'd wall	H
Once screen'd the hospitable hall	H
When yonder broken arch was whole	I
'Twas there was dealt the weekly dole	I
And where yon tottering columns nod	J
The chapel sent the hymn to God	J
So flits the world's uncertain span	K
Nor zeal for God nor love for man	K
Gives mortal monuments a date	L
Beyond the power of Time and Fate	L
The towers must share the builder's doom	M
Ruin is theirs and his a tomb	M
But better boon benignant Heaven	N
To Faith and Charity has given	N
And bids the Christian hope sublime	O
Transcend the bounds of Fate and Time	O
	-
II	A
Now the third night of summer came	P
Since that which witness'd Rokeby's flame	P
On Brignall cliffs and Scargill brake	Q
The owlet's homilies awake	Q
The bittern scream'd from rush and flag	R
The raven slumber'd on his crag	R
Forth from his den the otter drew	S
Grayling and trout their tyrant knew	S
As between reed and sedge he peers	T
With fierce round snout and sharpen'd ears	T
Or prowling by the moonbeam cool	U
Watches the stream or swims the pool	U
Perch'd on his wonted eyrie high	A
Sleep seal'd the tercelet's wearied eye	A
That all the day had watch'd so well	V
The cushat dart across the dell	V
In dubious beam reflected shone	W
That lofty cliff of pale grey stone	W
Beside whose base the secret cave	X
To rapine late a refuge gave	X
The crag's wild crest of copse and yew	S
On Greta's breast dark shadows threw	S
Shadows that met or shunn'd the sight	Y
With every change of fitful light	Y
As hope and fear alternate chase	G
Our course through life's uncertain race	G
	-
III	A
Gliding by crag and copsewood green	D
A solitary form was seen	D
To trace with stealthy pace the wold	Z
Like fox that seeks the midnight fold	Z
And pauses oft and cowers dismay'd	A2
At every breath that stirs the shade	A2
He passes now the ivy bush	B2
The owl has seen him and is hush	C2
He passes now the dodder'd oak	R
Ye heard the startled raven croak	R
Lower and lower he descends	D2
Rustle the leaves the brushwood bends	D2
The otter hears him tread the shore	E2
And dives and is beheld no more	E2
And by the cliff of pale grey stone	W
The midnight wanderer stands alone	W
Methinks that by the moon we trace	G
A well remember'd form and face	G
That stripling shape that cheek so pale	F2
Combine to tell a rueful tale	F2
Of powers misused of passion's force	G2
Of guilt of grief and of remorse	G2
'Tis Edmund's eye at every sound	F
That flings that guilty glance around	F
'Tis Edmund's trembling haste divides	H2
The brushwood that the cavern hides	H2
And when its narrow porch lies bare	I2
'Tis Edmund's form that enters there	I2
	-
IV	X
His flint and steel have sparkled bright	Y
A lamp hath lent the cavern light	Y
Fearful and quick his eye surveys	J2
Each angle of the gloomy maze	J2
Since last he left that stern abode	K2
It seem'd as none its floor had trod	J
Untouch'd appeared the various spoil	L2
The purchase of his comrades' toil	L2
Masks and disguises grimed with mud	M2
Arms broken and defiled with blood	M2
And all the nameless tools that aid	A2
Night felons in their lawless trade	A2
Upon the gloomy walls were hung	R
Or lay in nooks obscurely flung	R
Still on the sordid board appear	N2
The relics of the noontide cheer	N2
Flagons and emptied flasks were there	I2
And bench o'erthrown and shatter'd chair	I2
And all around the semblance show'd	K2
As when the final revel glow'd	K2
When the red sun was setting fast	O2
And parting pledge Guy Denzil past	O2
To Rokeby treasure vaults they quaff'd	O2
And shouted loud and wildly laugh'd	O2
Pour'd maddening from the rocky door	E2
And parted to return no more	E2
They found in Rokeby vaults their doom	M
A bloody death a burning tomb	M
	-
V	X
There his own peasant dress he spies	P2
Doff'd to assume that quaint disguise	P2
And shuddering thought upon his glee	X
When prank'd in garb of minstrelsy	P2
be the fatal art accurst	O2
He cried that moved my folly first	O2
Till bribed by bandits' base applause	P2
I burst through God's and Nature's laws	P2
Three summer days are scantly past	O2
Since I have trod this cavern last	O2
A thoughtless wretch and prompt to err	I2
But as yet no murderer	B
Even now I list my comrades' cheer	N2
That general laugh is in mine ear	Q2
Which raised my pulse and steel'd my heart	O2
As I rehearsed my treacherous part	O2
And would that all since then could seem	R2
The phantom of a fever's dream	R2
But fatal Memory notes too well	V
The horrors of the dying yell	V
From my despairing mates that broke	R
When flash'd the fire and roll'd the smoke	R
When the avengers shouting came	P
And hemm'd us 'twixt the sword and flame	P
My frantic flight the lifted brand	O2
That angel's interposing hand	O2
If for my life from slaughter freed	O2
I yet could pay some grateful meed	O2
Perchance this object of my quest	O2
May aid he turn'd nor spoke the rest	O2
	-
VI	X
Due northward from the rugged hearth	S2
With paces five he metes the earth	T2
Then toil'd with mattock to explore	E2
The entrails of the cavern floor	E2
Nor paused till deep beneath the ground	O2
His search a small steel casket found	O2
Just as he stoop'd to loose its hasp	C
His shoulder felt a giant grasp	C
He started and look'd up aghast	O2
Then shriek'd 'Twas Bertram held him fast	O2
Fear not he said but who could hear	Q2
That deep stern voice and cease to fear	N2
Fear not By heaven he shakes as much	U2
As partridge in the falcon's clutch	U2
He raised him and unloosed his hold	O2
While from the opening casket roll'd	O2
A chain and reliquaire of gold	O2
Bertram beheld it with surprise	P2
Gazed on its fashion and device	P2
Then cheering Edmund as he could	O2
Somewhat he smooth'd his rugged mood	O2
For still the youth's half lifted eye	X
Quiver'd with terror's agony	X
And sidelong glanced as to explore	E2
In meditated flight the door	E2
Sit Bertram said from danger free	X
Thou canst not and thou shalt not flee	X
Chance brings me hither hill and plain	V2
I've sought for refuge place in vain	V2
And tell me now thou aguish boy	W2
What makest thou here what means this toy	W2
Denzil and thou I mark'd were ta'en	X2
What lucky chance unbound your chain	V2
I deem'd long since on Baliol's tower	B
Your heads were warp'd with sun and shower	B
Tell me the whole and mark nought e'er	B
Chafes me like falsehood or like fear	N2
Gathering his courage to his aid	O2
But trembling still the youth obey'd	O2
	-
VII	X
Denzil and I two nights pass'd o'er	B
In fetters on the dungeon floor	E2
A guest the third sad morrow brought	O2
Our hold dark Oswald Wycliffe sought	O2
And eyed my comrade long askance	P2
With fix'd and penetrating glance	P2
'Guy Denzil art thou call'd ' 'The same '	-
'At Court who served wild Buckinghame	P
Thence banish'd won a keeper's place	P2
So Villiers will'd in Marwood chase	P2
That lost I need not tell thee why	X
Thou madest thy wit thy wants supply	X
Then fought for Rokeby Have I guess'd	O2
My prisoner right ' 'At thy behest '	-
He paused awhile and then went on	Y2
With low and confidential tone	W
Me as I judge not then he saw	P2
Close nestled in my couch of straw	P2
List to me Guy Thou know'st the great	O2
Have frequent need of what they hate	O2
Hence in their favour oft we see	X
Unscrupled useful men like thee	X
Were I disposed to bid thee live	X
What pledge of faith hast thou to give '	-
	-
VIII	X
The ready Fiend who never yet	O2
Hath failed to sharpen Denzil's wit	O2
Prompted his lie 'His only child	O2
Should rest his pledge ' The Baron smiled	O2
And turn'd to me 'Thou art his son '	-
I bowed our fetters were undone	N
And we were led to hear apart	O2
A dreadful lesson of his art	O2
Wilfrid he said his heir and son	N
Had fair Matilda's favour won	N
And long since had their union been	Z2
But for her father's bigot spleen	D
Whose brute and blindfold party rage	A3
Would force per force her hand engage	A3
To a base kern of Irish earth	T2
Unknown his lineage and his birth	T2
Save that a dying ruffian bore	E2
The infant brat to Rokeby door	E2
Gentle restraint he said would lead	O2
Old Rokeby to enlarge his creed	O2
But fair occasion he must find	O2
For such restraint well meant and kind	O2
The Knight being render'd to his charge	B3
But as a prisoner at large	B3
	-
IX	X
He school'd us in a well forged tale	F2
Of scheme the Castle walls to scale	F2
To which was leagued each Cavalier	N2
That dwells upon the Tyne and Wear	I2
That Rokeby his parole forgot	O2
Had dealt with us to aid the plot	O2
Such was the charge which Denzil's zeal	C3
Of hate to Rokeby and O'Neale	C3
Proffer'd as witness to make good	O2
Even though the forfeit were their blood	O2
I scrupled until o'er and o'er	B
His prisoners' safety Wycliffe swore	E2
And then alas what needs there more	E2
I knew I should not live to say	X
The proffer I refused that day	X
Ashamed to live yet loath to die	X
I soil'd me with their infamy	X
Poor youth said Bertram wavering still	D3
Unfit alike for good or ill	D3
But what fell next Soon as at large	B3
Was scroll'd and sign'd our fatal charge	B3
There never yet on tragic stage	A3
Was seen so well a painted rage	A3
As Oswald's show'd With loud alarm	P
He call'd his garrison to arm	P
From tower to tower from post to post	O2
He hurried as if all were lost	O2
Consign'd to dungeon and to chain	V2
The good old Knight and all his train	V2
Warn'd each suspected Cavalier	N2
Within his limits to appear	N2
To morrow at the hour of noon	E3
In the high church of Eglistone	E3
	-
X	X
Of Eglistone Even now I pass'd	O2
Said Bertram as the night closed fast	O2
Torches and cressets gleam'd around	O2
I heard the saw and hammer sound	O2
And I could mark they toil'd to raise	X
A scaffold hung with sable baize	X
Which the grim headsman's scene display'd	O2
Block axe and sawdust ready laid	O2
Some evil deed will there be done	E3
Unless Matilda wed his son	E3
She loves him not 'tis shrewdly guess'd	O2
That Redmond rules the damsel's breast	O2
This is a turn of Oswald's skill	D3
But I may meet and foil him still	D3
How camest thou to thy freedom	P
There Lies mystery more dark and rare	I2
In midst of Wycliffe's well feign'd rage	A3
A scroll was offer'd by a page	A3
Who told a muffled horseman late	O2
Had left it at the Castle gate	O2
He broke the seal his cheek show'd change	F3
Sudden portentous wild and strange	F3
The mimic passion of his eye	X
Was turn'd to actual agony	E3
His hand like summer sapling shook	R
Terror and guilt were in his look	R
Denzil he judged in time of need	O2
Fit counsellor for evil deed	O2
And thus apart his counsel broke	R
While with a ghastly smile he spoke	R
	-
XI	E3
As in the pageants of the stage	A3
The dead awake in this wild age	A3
Mortham whom all men deem'd decreed	O2
In his own deadly snare to bleed	O2
Slain by a bravo whom o'er sea	E3
He train'd to aid in murdering me	E3
Mortham has 'scaped The coward shot	O2
The steed but harm'd the rider not	O2
Here with an execration fell	V
Bertram leap'd up and paced the cell	V
Thine own grey head or bosom dark	R
He mutter'd may be surer mark	R
Then sat and sign'd to Edmund pale	F2
With terror to resume his tale	F2
Wycliffe went on 'Mark with what flights	X
Of wilder'd reverie he writes	X
	-
THE LETTER	B
Ruler of Mortham's destiny	E3
Though dead thy victim lives to thee	E3
Once had he all that binds to life	X
A lovely child a lovelier wife	X
Wealth fame and friendship were his own	E3
Thou gavest the word and they are flown	E3
Mark how he pays thee To thy hand	O2
He yields his honours and his land	O2
One boon premised Restore his child	O2
And from his native land exiled	O2
Mortham no more returns to claim	P
His lands his honours or his name	P
Refuse him this and from the slain	E3
Thou shalt see Mortham rise again	E3
	-
XII	X
This billet while the Baron read	O2
His faltering accents show'd his dread	O2
He press'd his forehead with his palm	P
Then took a scornful tone and calm	P
Wild as the winds as billows wild	O2
What wot I of his spouse or child	O2
Hither he brought a joyous dame	P
Unknown her lineage or her name	P
Her in some frantic fit he slew	S
The nurse and child in fear withdrew	S
Heaven be my witness wist I where	I2
To find this youth my kinsman's heir	I2
Unguerdon'd I would give with joy	W2
The father's arms to fold his boy	W2
And Mortham's lands and towers resign	E3
To the just heirs of Mortham's line	E3
Thou know'st that scarcely e'en his fear	N2
Suppresses Denzil's cynic sneer	N2
Then happy is thy vassal's part	O2
He said to ease his patron's heart	O2
In thine own jailor's watchful care	I2
Lies Mortham's just and rightful heir	I2
Thy generous wish is fully won	E3
Redmond O'Neale is Mortham's son	E3
	-
XIII	X
Up starting with a frenzied look	R
His clenched hand the Baron shook	R
Is Hell at work or dost thou rave	X
Or darest thou palter with me slave	X
Perchance thou wot'st not Barnard's towers	X
Have racks of strange and ghastly powers	X
Denzil who well his safety knew	S
Firmly rejoin'd 'I tell thee true	S
Thy racks could give thee but to know	E3
The proofs which I untortured show	E3
It chanced upon a winter night	O2
When early snow made Stanmore white	O2
That very night when first of all	H
Redmond O'Neale saw Rokeby hall	H
It was my goodly lot to gain	E3
A reliquary and a chain	E3
Twisted and chased of massive gold	O2
Demand not how the prize I hold	O2
It was not given nor lent nor sold	O2
Gilt tablets to the chain were hung	R
With letters in the Irish tongue	R
I hid my spoil for there was need	O2
That I should leave the land with speed	O2
Nor then I deem'd it safe to bear	I2
On mine own person gems so rare	I2
Small heed I of the tablets took	R
But since have spell'd them by the book	R
When some sojourn in Erin's land	O2
Of their wild speech had given command	O2
But darkling was the sense the phrase	X
And language those of other days	X
Involved of purpose as to foil	L2
An interloper's prying toil	L2
The words but not the sense I knew	S
Till fortune gave the guiding clew	L2
	-
	-
XIV	X
Three days since was that clew reveal'd	O2
In Thorsgill as I lay conceal'd	O2
And heard at full when Rokeby's Maid	O2
Her uncle's history display'd	O2
And now I can interpret well	L2
Each syllable the tablets tell	L2
Mark then Fair Edith was the joy	W2
Of old O'Neale of Clandeboy	W2
But from her sire and country fled	O2
In secret Mortham's Lord to wed	O2
O'Neale his first resentment o'er	B
Despatch'd his son to Greta's shore	E2
Enjoining he should make him known	E3
Until his farther will were shown	E3
To Edith but to her alone	E3
What of their ill starr'd meeting fell	L2
Lord Wycliffe knows and none so well	L2
	-
XV	X
O'Neale it was who in despair	I2
Robb'd Mortham of his infant heir	I2
He bred him in their nurture wild	O2
And call'd him murder'd Connel's child	O2
Soon died the nurse the Clan believed	O2
What from their Chieftain they received	O2
His purpose was that ne'er again	E3
The boy should cross the Irish main	E3
But like his mountain sires enjoy	W2
The woods and wastes of Clandeboy	W2
Then on the land wild troubles came	P
And stronger Chieftains urged a claim	P
And wrested from the old man's hands	X
His native towers his father's lands	X
Unable then amid the strife	X
To guard young Redmond's rights or life	X
Late and reluctant he restores	X
The infant to his native shores	X
With goodly gifts and letters stored	O2
With many a deep conjuring word	O2
To Mortham and to Rokeby's Lord	O2
Nought knew the clod of Irish earth	T2
Who was the guide of Redmond's birth	T2
But deem'd his Chief's commands were laid	O2
On both by both to be obey'd	O2
How he was wounded by the way	X
I need not and I list not say	X
	-
XVI	X
'A wondrous tale and grant it true	S
What ' Wycliffe answer'd 'might I do	S
Heaven knows as willingly as now	E3
I raise the bonnet from my brow	E3
Would I my kinsman's manors fair	I2
Restore to Mortham or his heir	I2
But Mortham is distraught O'Neale	L2
Has drawn for tyranny his steel	L2
Malignant to our rightful cause	X
And train'd in Rome's delusive laws	X
Hark thee apart ' They whisper'd long	R
Till Denzil's voice grew bold and strong	R
'My proofs I never will ' he said	O2
Show mortal man where they are laid	O2
Nor hope discovery to foreclose	X
By giving me to feed the crows	X
For I have mates at large who know	E3
Where I am wont such toys to stow	E3
Free me from peril and from band	O2
These tablets are at thy command	O2
N'or were it hard to form some train	E3
To wile old Mortham o'er the main	E3
Then lunatic's nor papist's hand	O2
Should wrest from thine the goodly land '	-
'I like thy wit ' said Wycliffe 'well	L2
But here in hostage shalt thou dwell	L2
Thy son unless my purpose err	I2
May prove the trustier messenger	B
A scroll to Mortham shall he bear	I2
From me and fetch these tokens rare	I2
Gold shalt thou have and that good store	E2
And freedom his commission o'er	B
But if his faith should chance to fail	L2
The gibbet frees thee from the jail '	-
	-
XVII	X
Mesh'd in the net himself had twined	O2
What subterfuge could Denzil find	O2
He told me with reluctant sigh	X
That hidden here the tokens lie	X
Conjured my swift return and aid	O2
By all he scoff'd and disobey'd	O2
And look'd as if the noose were tied	O2
And I the priest who left his side	O2
This scroll for Mortham Wycliffe gave	X
Whom I must seek by Greta's wave	X
Or in the hut where chief he hides	X
Where Thorsgill's forester resides	X
Thence chanced it wandering in the glade	O2
That he descried our ambuscade	O2
I was dismiss'd as evening fell	L2
And reach'd but now this rocky cell	L2
Give Oswald's letter Bertram read	O2
And tore it fiercely shred by shred	O2
All lies and villany to blind	O2
His noble kinsman's generous mind	O2
And train him on from day to day	O2
Till he can take his life away	O2
And now declare thy purpose youth	G3
Nor dare to answer save the truth	G3
If aught I mark of Denzil's art	O2
I'll tear the secret from thy heart	O2
	-
XVIII	X
It needs not I renounce he said	O2
My tutor and his deadly trade	O2
Fix'd was my purpose to declare	I2
To Mortham Redmond is his heir	I2
To tell him in what risk he stands	X
And yield these tokens to his hands	X
Fix'd was my purpose to atone	E3
Far as I may the evil done	E3
And fix'd it rests if I survive	X
This night and leave this cave alive	X
And Denzil Let them ply the rack	R
Even till his joints and sinews crack	R
If Oswald tear him limb from limb	P
What ruth can Denzil claim from him	P
Whose thoughtless youth he led astray	O2
And damn'd to this unhallowed way	O2
He school'd me faith and vows were vain	E3
Now let my master reap his gain	E3
True answer'd Bertram 'tis his meed	O2
There's retribution in the deed	O2
But thou thou art not for our course	X
Hast fear hast pity hast remorse	X
And he with us the gale who braves	X
Must heave such cargo to the waves	X
Or lag with overloaded prore	O2
While barks unburden'd reach the shore	O2
	-
XIX	X
He paused and stretching him at length	H3
Seem'd to repose his bulky strength	H3
Communing with his secret mind	O2
As half he sat and half reclined	O2
One ample hand his forehead press'd	O2
And one was dropp'd across his breast	O2
The shaggy eyebrows deeper came	P
Above his eyes of swarthy flame	P
His lip of pride awhile forbore	O2
The haughty curve till then it wore	O2
The unalter'd fierceness of his look	R
A shade of darken'd sadness took	R
For dark and sad a presage press'd	O2
Resistlessly on Bertram's breast	O2
And when he spoke his wonted tone	E3
So fierce abrupt and brief was gone	E3
His voice was steady low and deep	C
Like distant waves when breezes sleep	C
And sorrow mix'd with Edmund's fear	O2
Its low unbroken depth to hear	O2
Edmund in thy sad tale I find	O2
The wo that warp'd my patron's mind	O2
'Twould wake the fountains of the eye	X
In other men but mine are dry	X
Mortham must never see the fool	L2
That sold himself base Wycliffe's tool	L2
Yet less from thirst of sordid gain	E3
Than to avenge supposed disdain	E3
Say Bertram rues his fault a word	O2
Till now from Bertram never heard	O2
Say too that Mortham's Lord he prays	X
To think but on their former days	X
On Quariana's beach and rock	R
On Cayo's bursting battle shock	R
On Darien's sands and deadly dew	O2
And on the dart Tlatzeca threw	O2
Perchance my patron yet may hear	O2
More that may grace his comrade's bier	O2
My soul hath felt a secret weight	O2
A warning of approaching fate	O2
A priest had said 'Return repent '	-
As well to bid that rock be rent	O2
Firm as that flint I face mine end	O2
My heart may burst but cannot bend	O2
	-
XXI	X
The dawning of my youth with awe	I3
And prophecy the Dalesmen saw	X
For over Redesdale it came	P
As bodeful as their beacon flame	P
Edmund thy years were scarcely mine	E3
When challenging the Clans of Tyne	E3
To bring their best my brand to prove	X
O'er Hexham's altar hung my glove	X
But Tynedale nor in tower nor town	E3
Held champion meet to take it down	E3
My noontide India may declare	O2
Like her fierce sun I fired the air	O2
Like him to wood and cave bade fly	X
Her natives from mine angry eye	X
Panama's maids shall long look pale	L2
When Risingham inspires the tale	L2
Chili's dark matrons long shall tame	P
The forward child with Bertram's name	P
And now my race of terror run	E3
Mine be the eve of tropic sun	E3
No pale gradations quench his ray	O2
No twilight dews his wrath allay	O2
With disk like battle target red	O2
He rushes to his burning bed	O2
Dyes the wide wave with bloody light	O2
Then sinks at once and all is night	O2
	-
XXII	X
Now to thy mission Edmund Fly	X
Seek Mortham out and bid him hie	J3
To Richmond where his troops are laid	O2
And lead his force to Redmond's aid	O2
Say till he reaches Eglistone	E3
A friend will watch to guard his son	E3
Now fare thee well for night draws on	E3
And I would rest me here alone	E3
Despite his ill dissembled fear	O2
There swam in Edmund's eye a tear	O2
A tribute to the courage high	X
Which stoop'd not in extremity	O2
But strove irregularly great	O2
To triumph o'er approaching fate	O2
Bertram beheld the dewdrop start	O2
It almost touch'd his iron heart	O2
I did not think there lived he said	O2
One who would tear for Bertram shed	O2
He loosen'd then his baldric's hold	O2
A buckle broad of massive gold	O2
Of all the spoil that paid his pains	X
But this with Risingham remains	X
And this dear Edmund thou shalt take	R
And wear it long for Bertram's sake	R
Once more to Mortham speed amain	E3
Farewell and turn thee not again	E3
	-
XXIII	X
The night has yielded to the morn	E3
And far the hours of prime are worn	E3
Oswald who since the dawn of day	O2
Had cursed his messenger's delay	O2
Impatient question'd now his train	E3
Was Denzil's son return'd again	E3
It chanced there answer'd of the crew	O2
A menial who young Edmund knew	O2
No son of Denzil this he said	O2
A peasant boy from Winston glade	O2
For song and minstrelsy renown'd	O2
And knavish pranks the hamlets round	O2
Not Denzil's son From Winston vale	L2
Then it was false that specious tale	L2
Or worse he hath despatch'd the youth	G3
To show to Mortham's Lord its truth	G3
Fool that I was but 'tis too late	O2
This is the very turn of fate	O2
The tale or true or false relies	X
On Denzil's evidence He dies	X
Ho Provost Marshal instantly	O2
Lead Denzil to the gallows tree	O2
Allow him not a parting word	O2
Short be the shrift and sure the cord	O2
Then let his gory head appal	O2
Marauders from the Castle wall	O2
Lead forth thy guard that duty done	E3
With best despatch to Eglistone	E3
Basil tell Wilfrid he must straight	O2
Attend me at the Castle gate	O2
	-
XXIV	X
Alas the old domestic said	O2
And shook his venerable head	O2
Alas my Lord full ill to day	O2
May my young master brook the way	O2
The leech has spoke with grave alarm	P
Of unseen hurt of secret harm	P
Of sorrow lurking at the heart	O2
That mars and lets his healing art	O2
Tush tell not me Romantic boys	X
Pine themselves sick for airy toys	X
I will find cure for Wilfrid soon	E3
Bid him for Eglistone be boune	E3
And quick I hear the dull death drum	P
Tell Denzil's hour of fate is come	P
He paused with scornful smile and then	E3
Resumed his train of thought agen	E3
Now comes my fortune's crisis near	O2
Entreaty boots not instant fear	O2
Nought else can bend Matilda's pride	O2
Or win her to be Wilfrid's bride	O2
But when she sees the scaffold placed	O2
With axe and block and headsman graced	O2
And when she deems that to deny	E3
Dooms Redmond and her sire to die	E3
She must give way Then were the line	E3
Of Rokeby once combined with mine	E3
I gain the weather gage of fate	O2
If Mortham come he comes too late	O2
While I allied thus and prepared	O2
Bid him defiance to his beard	O2
If she prove stubborn shall I dare	O2
To drop the axe Soft pause we there	O2
Mortham still lives yon youth may tell	O2
His tale and Fairfax loves him well	O2
Else wherefore should I now delay	O2
To sweep this Redmond from my way	O2
But she to piety perforce	X
Must yield Without there Sound to horse	X
	-
XXV	X
'Twas bustle in the court below	O2
Mount and march forward Forth they go	O2
Steeds neigh and trample all around	O2
Steel rings spears glimmer trumpets sound	O2
Just then was sung his parting hymn	E3
And Denzil turn'd his eyeballs dim	E3
And scarcely conscious what he sees	X
Follows the horsemen down the Tees	X
And scarcely conscious what he hears	X
The trumpets tingle in his ears	X
O'er the long bridge they're sweeping now	E3
The van is hid by greenwood bough	E3
But ere the rearward had pass'd o'er	O2
Guy Denzil heard and saw no more	O2
One stroke upon the Castle bell	O2
To Oswald rung his dying knell	O2
	-
XXVI	X
for that pencil erst profuse	X
Of chivalry's emblazon'd hues	X
That traced of old in Woodstock bower	O2
The pageant of the Leaf and Flower	O2
And bodied forth the tourney high	X
Held for the hand of Emily	O2
Then might I paint the tumult broad	O2
That to the crowded abbey flow'd	O2
And pour'd as with an ocean's sound	O2
Into the church's ample bound	O2
Then might I show each varying mien	E3
Exulting woful or serene	E3
Indifference with his idiot stare	O2
And Sympathy with anxious air	O2
Paint the dejected Cavalier	O2
Doubtful disarm'd and sad of cheer	O2
And his proud foe whose formal eye	X
Claim'd conquest now and mastery	O2
And the brute crowd whose envious zeal	O2
Huzzas each turn of Fortune's wheel	O2
And loudest shouts when lowest lie	X
Exalted worth and station high	X
Yet what may such a wish avail	O2
Tis mine to tell an onward tale	O2
Hurrying as best I can along	R
The hearers and the hasty song	R
Like traveller when approaching home	P
Who sees the shades of evening come	P
And must not now his course delay	O2
Or choose the fair but winding way	O2
Nay scarcely may his pace suspend	O2
Where o'er his head the wildlings bend	O2
To bless the breeze that cools his brow	E3
Or snatch a blossom from the bough	E3
	-
XXVII	X
The reverend pile lay wild and waste	O2
Profaned dishonour'd and defaced	O2
Through storied lattices no more	O2
In soften'd light the sunbeams pour	O2
Gilding the Gothic sculpture rich	K3
Of shrine and monument and niche	K3
The Civil fury of the time	P
Made sport of sacrilegious crime	P
For dark Fanaticism rent	O2
Altar and screen and ornament	O2
And peasant hands the tombs o'erthrew	O2
Of Bowes of Rokeby and Fitz Hugh	X
And now was seen unwonted sight	O2
In holy walls a scaffold dight	O2
Where once the priest of grace divine	E3
Dealt to his flock the mystic sign	E3
There stood the block display'd and there	O2
The headsman grim his hatchet bare	O2
And for the word of Hope and Faith	L3
Resounded loud a doom of death	M3
Thrice the fierce trumpet's breath was heard	O2
And echo'd thrice the herald's word	O2
Dooming for breach of martial laws	X
And treason to the Commons' cause	X
The Knight of Rokeby and O'Neale	O2
To stoop their heads to block and steel	O2
The trumpets flourish'd high and shrill	O2
Then was a silence dead and still	O2
And silent prayers to heaven were cast	O2
And stifled sobs were bursting fast	O2
Till from the crowd begun to rise	X
Murmurs of sorrow or surprise	X
And from the distant aisles there came	P
Deep mutter'd threats with Wycliffe's name	P
	-
XXVIII	X
But Oswald guarded by his band	O2
Powerful in evil waved his hand	O2
And bade Sedition's voice be dead	O2
On peril of the murmurer's head	O2
Then first his glance sought Rokeby's Knight	O2
Who gazed on the tremendous sight	O2
As calm as if he came a guest	O2
To kindred Baron's feudal feast	O2
As calm as if that trumpet call	O2
Were summons to the banner'd hall	O2
Firm in his loyalty he stood	O2
And prompt to seal it with his blood	O2
With downcast look drew Oswald nigh	X
He durst not cope with Rokeby's eye	X
And said with low and faltering breath	M3
Thou know'st the terms of life and death	M3
The Knight then turn'd and sternly smiled	O2
The maiden is mine only child	O2
Yet shall my blessing leave her head	O2
If with a traitor's son she wed	O2
Then Redmond spoke The life of one	E3
Might thy malignity atone	E3
On me be flung a double guilt	O2
Spare Rokeby's blood let mine be spilt	O2
Wycliffe had listen'd to his suit	O2
But dread prevail'd and he was mute	O2
	-
XXIX	X
And now he pours his choice of fear	O2
In secret on Matilda's ear	O2
An union form'd with me and mine	E3
Ensures the faith of Rokeby's line	E3
Consent and all this dread array	O2
Like morning dream shall pass away	O2
Refuse and by my duty press'd	O2
I give the word thou know'st the rest	O2
Matilda still and motionless	X
With terror heard the dread address	X
Pale as the sheeted maid who dies	X
To hopeless love a sacrifice	X
Then wrung her hands in agony	O2
And round her cast bewilder'd eye	X
Now on the scaffold glanced and now	E3
On Wycliffe's unrelenting brow	E3
She veil'd her face and with a voice	X
Scarce audible I make my choice	X
Spare but their lives for aught beside	O2
Let Wilfrid's doom my fate decide	O2
He once was generous As she spoke	R
Dark Wycliffe's joy in triumph broke	R
Wilfrid where loiter'd ye so late	O2
Why upon Basil rest thy weight	O2
Art spell bound by enchanter's wand	O2
Krieel kneel and take her yielded hand	O2
Thank her with raptures simple boy	W2
Should tears and trembling speak thy joy	W2
hush my sire To prayer and tear	O2
Of mine thou hast refused thine ear	O2
But now the awful hour draws on	E3
When truth must speak in loftier tone	E3
	-
XXX	X
He took Matilda's hand Dear maid	O2
Couldst thou so injure me he said	O2
Of thy poor friend so basely deem	P
As blend with him this barbarous scheme	P
Alas My efforts made in vain	E3
Might well have saved this added pain	E3
But now bear witness earth and heaven	E3
That ne'er was hope to mortal given	E3
So twisted with the strings of life	X
As this to call Matilda wife	X
I bid it now forever part	O2
And with the effort bursts my heart	O2
His feeble frame was worn so low	O2
With wounds with watching and with woe	O2
That nature could no more sustain	E3
The agony of mental pain	E3
He kneel'd his lip her hand had press'd	O2
Just then he felt the stern arrest	O2
Lower and lower sunk his head	O2
They raised him but the life was fled	O2
Then first alarm'd his sire and train	E3
Tried every aid but tried in vain	E3
The soul too soft its ills to bear	O2
Had left our mortal hemisphere	O2
And sought in better world the meed	O2
To blameless life by Heaven decreed	O2
	-
XXXI	X
The wretched sire beheld aghast	O2
With Wilfrid all his projects past	O2
All turn'd and centred on his son	E3
On Wilfiid all and he was gone	E3
And I am childless now he said	O2
Childless through that relentless maid	O2
A lifetime's arts in vain essay'd	O2
Are bursting on their artist's head	O2
Here lies my Wilfrid dead and there	O2
Comes hated Mortham for his heir	O2
Eager to knit in happy band	O2
With Rokeby's heiress Redmond's hand	O2
And shall their triumph soar o'er all	O2
The schemes deep laid to work their fall	O2
No deeds which prudence might not dare	O2
Appall not vengeance and despair	O2
The murdress weeps upon his bier	O2
I'll change to real that feigned tear	O2
They all shall share destruction's shock	R
Ho lead the captives to the block	R
But ill his Provost could divine	E3
His feelings and forbore the sign	E3
Slave to the block or I or they	O2
Shall face the judgment seat this day	O2
	-
XXXII	X
The outmost crowd have heard a sound	O2
Like horse's hoof on harden'd ground	O2
Nearer it came and yet more near	O2
The very deaths men paused to hear	O2
'Tis in the churchyard now the tread	O2
Hath waked the dwelling of the dead	O2
Fresh sod and old sepulchral stone	E3
Return the tramp in varied tone	E3
All eyes upon the gateway hung	R
When through the Gothic arch there sprung	R
A horseman arm'd at headlong speed	O2
Sable his cloak his plume his steed	O2
Fire from the flinty floor was spurn'd	O2
The vaults unwonted clang return'd	O2
One instant's glance around he threw	X
From saddlebow his pistol drew	X
Grimly determined was his look	R
His charger with the spurs he strook	R
All scatter'd backward as he came	P
For all knew Bertram Risingham	P
Three bounds that noble courser gave	X
The first has reach'd the central nave	X
The second clear'd the chancel wide	O2
The third he was at Wycliffe's side	O2
Full levell'd at the Baron's head	O2
Rung the report the bullet sped	O2
And to his long account and last	O2
Without a groan dark Oswald past	O2
All was so quick that it might seem	P
A flash of lightning or a dream	P
	-
XXXIII	X
While yet the smoke the deed conceals	X
Bertram his ready charger wheels	X
But flounder'd on the pavement floor	O2
The steed and down the rider bore	O2
And bursting in the headlong sway	O2
The faithless saddle girths gave way	O2
'Twas while he toil'd him to be freed	O2
And with the rein to raise the steed	O2
That from amazement's iron trance	X
All Wycliffe's soldiers waked at once	X
Sword halberd musket but their blows	X
Hail'd upon Bertram as he rose	X
A score of pikes with each a wound	O2
Bore down and pinn'd him to the ground	O2
But still his struggling force he rears	X
'Gainst hacking brands and stabbing spears	X
Thrice from assailants shook him free	O2
Once gain'd his feet and twice his knee	O2
By tenfold odds oppress'd at length	H3
Despite his struggles and his strength	H3
He took a hundred mortal wounds	X
As mute as fox 'mongst mangling hounds	X
And when he died his parting groan	E3
Had more of laughter than of moan	E3
They gazed as when a lion dies	X
And hunters scarcely trust their eyes	X
But bend their weapons on the slain	E3
Lest the grim king should rouse again	E3
Then blow and insult some renew'd	O2
And from the trunk the head had hew'd	O2
But Basil's voice the deed forbade	O2
A mantle o'er the corse he laid	O2
Fell as he was in act and mind	O2
He left no bolder heart behind	O2
Then give him for a soldier meet	O2
A soldier's cloak for winding sheet	O2
	-
XXXIV	X
No more of death and dying pang	R
No more of trump and bugle clang	R
Though through the sounding woods there come	P
Banner and bugle trump and drum	P
Arm'd with such powers as well had freed	O2
Young Redmond at his utmost need	O2
And back'd with such a band of horse	X
As might less ample powers enforce	X
Possess'd of every proof and sign	E3
That gave an heir to Mortham's line	E3
And yielded to a father's arms	X
An image of his Edith's charms	X
Mortham is come to hear and see	O2
Of this strange morn the history	O2
What saw he not the church's floor	O2
Cumber'd with dead and stain'd with gore	O2
What heard lie not the clamorous crowd	O2
That shout their gratulations loud	O2
Redmond he saw and heard alone	E3
Clasp'd him and sobb'd My son my son	E3
	-
XXXV	X
This chanced upon a summer morn	E3
When yellow waved the heavy corn	E3
But when brown August o'er the land	O2
Call'd forth the reaper's busy band	O2
A gladsome sight the sylvan road	O2
From Eglistone to Mortham show'd	O2
Awhile the hardy rustic leaves	X
The task to bind and pile the sheaves	X
And maids their sickles fling aside	O2
To gaze on bridegroom and on bride	O2
And childhood's wondering group draws near	O2
And from the gleaner's hands the ear	O2
Drops while she folds them for a prayer	O2
And blessing on the lovely pair	O2
'Twas then the Maid of Rokeby gave	X
Her plighted troth to Redmond brave	X
And Teesdale can remember yet	O2
How Fate to Virtue paid her debt	O2
And for their troubles bade them prove	X
A lengthen'd life of peace and love	X
Time and Tide had thus their sway	O2
Yielding like an April day	O2
Smiling noon for sullen morrow	O2
Years of joy for hours of sorrow	O2
The End	O2

Walter Scott (sir)

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