The Vision Of Don Roderick Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCDEEFEFG BHBHHIHII JKJKKLKLL MNONOPQOQQ MIJIJJRJRR MSTSTTUTUU MNDNBDNBNN MCVCVVIVII JIUIUUNUNN JNJNJJIJII JWMWJJNJNN JJIJIININN X MJNJNNYNYY MNZNZZIZII MNNNNNJNJJ MNJNJJNJNN MNVNVVTVTT MTNTNNA2NA2A2 MB2NB2NNMNNM MTITIININN JJJJJJNJNN JNC2NC2C2NC2NN NNJNJJIJII JJA2JA2A2NA2NN JD2IE2IIMIJM MD2JD2JJNJNN MA2NA2NNINII MJF2JF2F2JF2JJ MG2NG2NNMNMM MKNKNNINII JH2D2H2D2D2D2D2D2D2 JJNJNNINII JNINIIIIII JJNJNNNNNN JJIJIIIIII MJMJMMMMMM MJJJJJNJNN MUI2UI2I2II2II MJKJKKNKNN MNNNNNKNKK JUNUNNNNNN JNNNNNRNRR JNINIID2ID2D2 JJ2JJ2JJJJJJ JNNNNNNNNN MUA2UA2A2D2A2D2D2 MD2ND2NNJNJJ MNINIININN MNNNNNJNJJ MJUJUUIUII JUK2UL2L2JL2JJ D2M2NM2NNA2NA2A2 D2KIKIININN D2NNNNNNNNN D2ID2ID2D2ND2NN MNA2NA2A2NA2NN MMNMNNINII MA2D2A2D2D2ND2NN MNJNJJJJMM MN2IN2IININN JD2ND2NNNNNN D2D2JD2JJNJNN JA2NA2NNC2NC2C2 JJUJUUMUMM JJA2JA2A2JA2JJ MJMJMMNMNN MNNNNNJNJJ MNJNJJO2JO2O2 MJNJNNNNNN MUIUIIJIJJ JNMNMMNMNN JJJJJJIJII JIJIJJC2JC2C2 JP2JP2JJNJNN JNINIIIIII I MNNNMMJMJJ MJA2JA2A2JA2JJ MNNNNNJNJJ MA2NA2NNO2NO2O2 MNJNJJNJNN MQ2NQ2NNUNUU MIIIIIJIJJ MNINIIJIJJ JNJNJJJJJJ JJIJIIIIII JNINIININN JNINIIMIMM JNUNUUNUNN MJNJNNNNNN MININNUJUU MNNNNNJNJJ MNJNJJUJUU MJJJJJNJNN

Introduction	A
	-
	-
I	-
Lives there a strain whose sounds of mounting fire	B
May rise distinguished o'er the din of war	C
Or died it with yon Master of the Lyre	D
Who sung beleaguered Ilion's evil star	E
Such Wellington might reach thee from afar	E
Wafting its descant wide o'er Ocean's range	F
Nor shouts nor clashing arms its mood could mar	E
All as it swelled 'twixt each loud trumpet change	F
That clangs to Britain victory to Portugal revenge	G
	-
II	-
Yes such a strain with all o'er pouring measure	B
Might melodise with each tumultuous sound	H
Each voice of fear or triumph woe or pleasure	B
That rings Mondego's ravaged shores around	H
The thundering cry of hosts with conquest crowned	H
The female shriek the ruined peasant's moan	I
The shout of captives from their chains unbound	H
The foiled oppressor's deep and sullen groan	I
A Nation's choral hymn for tyranny o'erthrown	I
	-
III	-
But we weak minstrels of a laggard day	J
Skilled but to imitate an elder page	K
Timid and raptureless can we repay	J
The debt thou claim'st in this exhausted age	K
Thou givest our lyres a theme that might engage	K
Those that could send thy name o'er sea and land	L
While sea and land shall last for Homer's rage	K
A theme a theme for Milton's mighty hand	L
How much unmeet for us a faint degenerate band	L
	-
IV	M
Ye mountains stern within whose rugged breast	N
The friends of Scottish freedom found repose	O
Ye torrents whose hoarse sounds have soothed their rest	N
Returning from the field of vanquished foes	O
Say have ye lost each wild majestic close	P
That erst the choir of Bards or Druids flung	Q
What bigotry their hymn of victory arose	O
And Cattraeth's glens with voice of triumph rung	Q
And mystic Merlin harped and grey haired Llywarch sung	Q
	-
V	M
Oh if your wilds such minstrelsy retain	I
As sure your changeful gales seem oft to say	J
When sweeping wild and sinking soft again	I
Like trumpet jubilee or harp's wild sway	J
If ye can echo such triumphant lay	J
Then lend the note to him has loved you long	R
Who pious gathered each tradition grey	J
That floats your solitary wastes along	R
And with affection vain gave them new voice in song	R
	-
VI	M
For not till now how oft soe'er the task	S
Of truant verse hath lightened graver care	T
From Muse or Sylvan was he wont to ask	S
In phrase poetic inspiration fair	T
Careless he gave his numbers to the air	T
They came unsought for if applauses came	U
Nor for himself prefers he now the prayer	T
Let but his verse befit a hero's fame	U
Immortal be the verse forgot the poet's name	U
	-
VII	M
Hark from yon misty cairn their answer tost	N
Minstrel the fame of whose romantic lyre	D
Capricious swelling now may soon be lost	N
Like the light flickering of a cottage fire	B
If to such task presumptuous thou aspire	D
Seek not from us the meed to warrior due	N
Age after age has gathered son to sire	B
Since our grey cliffs the din of conflict knew	N
Or pealing through our vales victorious bugles blew	N
	-
VIII	M
Decayed our old traditionary lore	C
Save where the lingering fays renew their ring	V
By milkmaid seen beneath the hawthorn hoar	C
Or round the marge of Minchmore's haunted spring	V
Save where their legends grey haired shepherds sing	V
That now scarce win a listening ear but thine	I
Of feuds obscure and Border ravaging	V
And rugged deeds recount in rugged line	I
Of moonlight foray made on Teviot Tweed or Tyne	I
	-
IX	J
No search romantic lands where the near Sun	I
Gives with unstinted boon ethereal flame	U
Where the rude villager his labour done	I
In verse spontaneous chants some favoured name	U
Whether Olalia's charms his tribute claim	U
Her eye of diamond and her locks of jet	N
Or whether kindling at the deeds of Graeme	U
He sing to wild Morisco measure set	N
Old Albin's red claymore green Erin's bayonet	N
	-
X	J
Explore those regions where the flinty crest	N
Of wild Nevada ever gleams with snows	J
Where in the proud Alhambra's ruined breast	N
Barbaric monuments of pomp repose	J
Or where the banners of more ruthless foes	J
Than the fierce Moor float o'er Toledo's fane	I
From whose tall towers even now the patriot throws	J
An anxious glance to spy upon the plain	I
The blended ranks of England Portugal and Spain	I
	-
XI	J
There of Numantian fire a swarthy spark	W
Still lightens in the sunburnt native's eye	M
The stately port slow step and visage dark	W
Still mark enduring pride and constancy	J
And if the glow of feudal chivalry	J
Beam not as once thy nobles' dearest pride	N
Iberia oft thy crestless peasantry	J
Have seen the plumed Hidalgo quit their side	N
Have seen yet dauntless stood 'gainst fortune fought and died	N
	-
XII	J
And cherished still by that unchanging race	J
Are themes for minstrelsy more high than thine	I
Of strange tradition many a mystic trace	J
Legend and vision prophecy and sign	I
Where wonders wild of Arabesque combine	I
With Gothic imagery of darker shade	N
Forming a model meet for minstrel line	I
Go seek such theme the Mountain Spirit said	N
With filial awe I heard I heard and I obeyed	N
	-
	-
	-
The Vision of Don Roderick	X
	-
	-
I	M
Rearing their crests amid the cloudless skies	J
And darkly clustering in the pale moonlight	N
Toledo's holy towers and spires arise	J
As from a trembling lake of silver white	N
Their mingled shadows intercept the sight	N
Of the broad burial ground outstretched below	Y
And nought disturbs the silence of the night	N
All sleeps in sullen shade or silver glow	Y
All save the heavy swell of Teio's ceaseless flow	Y
	-
II	M
All save the rushing swell of Teio's tide	N
Or distant heard a courser's neigh or tramp	Z
Their changing rounds as watchful horsemen ride	N
To guard the limits of King Roderick's camp	Z
For through the river's night fog rolling damp	Z
Was many a proud pavilion dimly seen	I
Which glimmered back against the moon's fair lamp	Z
Tissues of silk and silver twisted sheen	I
And standards proudly pitched and warders armed between	I
	-
III	M
But of their Monarch's person keeping ward	N
Since last the deep mouthed bell of vespers tolled	N
The chosen soldiers of the royal guard	N
The post beneath the proud Cathedral hold	N
A band unlike their Gothic sires of old	N
Who for the cap of steel and iron mace	J
Bear slender darts and casques bedecked with gold	N
While silver studded belts their shoulders grace	J
Where ivory quivers ring in the broad falchion's place	J
	-
IV	M
In the light language of an idle court	N
They murmured at their master's long delay	J
And held his lengthened orisons in sport	N
What will Don Roderick here till morning stay	J
To wear in shrift and prayer the night away	J
And are his hours in such dull penance past	N
For fair Florinda's plundered charms to pay	J
Then to the east their weary eyes they cast	N
And wished the lingering dawn would glimmer forth at last	N
	-
V	M
But far within Toledo's Prelate lent	N
An ear of fearful wonder to the King	V
The silver lamp a fitful lustre sent	N
So long that sad confession witnessing	V
For Roderick told of many a hidden thing	V
Such as are lothly uttered to the air	T
When Fear Remorse and Shame the bosom wring	V
And Guilt his secret burden cannot bear	T
And Conscience seeks in speech a respite from Despair	T
	-
VI	M
Full on the Prelate's face and silver hair	T
The stream of failing light was feebly rolled	N
But Roderick's visage though his head was bare	T
Was shadowed by his hand and mantle's fold	N
While of his hidden soul the sins he told	N
Proud Alaric's descendant could not brook	A2
That mortal man his bearing should behold	N
Or boast that he had seen when Conscience shook	A2
Fear tame a monarch's brow Remorse a warrior's look	A2
	-
VII	M
The old man's faded cheek waxed yet more pale	B2
As many a secret sad the King bewrayed	N
As sign and glance eked out the unfinished tale	B2
When in the midst his faltering whisper stayed	N
Thus royal Witiza was slain he said	N
Yet holy Father deem not it was I	M
Thus still ambition strives her crimes to shade	N
Oh rather deem 'twas stern necessity	N
Self preservation bade and I must kill or die	M
	-
VIII	M
And if Florinda's shrieks alarmed the air	T
If she invoked her absent sire in vain	I
And on her knees implored that I would spare	T
Yet reverend Priest thy sentence rash refrain	I
All is not as it seems the female train	I
Know by their bearing to disguise their mood	N
But Conscience here as if in high disdain	I
Sent to the Monarch's cheek the burning blood	N
He stayed his speech abrupt and up the Prelate stood	N
	-
IX	J
O hardened offspring of an iron race	J
What of thy crimes Don Roderick shall I say	J
What alms or prayers or penance can efface	J
Murder's dark spot wash treason's stain away	J
For the foul ravisher how shall I pray	J
Who scarce repentant makes his crime his boast	N
How hope Almighty vengeance shall delay	J
Unless in mercy to yon Christian host	N
He spare the shepherd lest the guiltless sheep be lost	N
	-
X	J
Then kindled the dark tyrant in his mood	N
And to his brow returned its dauntless gloom	C2
And welcome then he cried be blood for blood	N
For treason treachery for dishonour doom	C2
Yet will I know whence come they or by whom	C2
Show for thou canst give forth the fated key	N
And guide me Priest to that mysterious room	C2
Where if aught true in old tradition be	N
His nation's future fates a Spanish King shall see	N
	-
XI	N
Ill fated Prince recall the desperate word	N
Or pause ere yet the omen thou obey	J
Bethink yon spell bound portal would afford	N
Never to former Monarch entrance way	J
Nor shall it ever ope old records say	J
Save to a King the last of all his line	I
What bigotry his empire totters to decay	J
And treason digs beneath her fatal mine	I
And high above impends avenging wrath divine	I
	-
XII	J
Prelate a Monarch's fate brooks no delay	J
Lead on The ponderous key the old man took	A2
And held the winking lamp and led the way	J
By winding stair dark aisle and secret nook	A2
Then on an ancient gateway bent his look	A2
And as the key the desperate King essayed	N
Low muttered thunders the Cathedral shook	A2
And twice he stopped and twice new effort made	N
Till the huge bolts rolled back and the loud hinges brayed	N
	-
XIII	J
Long large and lofty was that vaulted hall	D2
Roof walls and floor were all of marble stone	I
Of polished marble black as funeral pall	E2
Carved o'er with signs and characters unknown	I
A paly light as of the dawning shone	I
Through the sad bounds but whence they could not spy	M
For window to the upper air was none	I
Yet by that light Don Roderick could descry	J
Wonders that ne'er till then were seen by mortal eye	M
	-
XIV	M
Grim sentinels against the upper wall	D2
Of molten bronze two Statues held their place	J
Massive their naked limbs their stature tall	D2
Their frowning foreheads golden circles grace	J
Moulded they seemed for kings of giant race	J
That lived and sinned before the avenging flood	N
This grasped a scythe that rested on a mace	J
This spread his wings for flight that pondering stood	N
Each stubborn seemed and stern immutable of mood	N
	-
XV	M
Fixed was the right hand Giant's brazen look	A2
Upon his brother's glass of shifting sand	N
As if its ebb he measured by a book	A2
Whose iron volume loaded his huge hand	N
In which was wrote of many a fallen land	N
Of empires lost and kings to exile driven	I
And o'er that pair their names in scroll expand	N
Lo bigotry and bigotry to whom by Heaven	I
The guidance of the earth is for a season given	I
	-
XVI	M
Even while they read the sand glass wastes away	J
And as the last and lagging grains did creep	F2
That right hand Giant 'gan his club upsway	J
As one that startles from a heavy sleep	F2
Full on the upper wall the mace's sweep	F2
At once descended with the force of thunder	J
And hurtling down at once in crumbled heap	F2
The marble boundary was rent asunder	J
And gave to Roderick's view new sights of fear and wonder	J
	-
XVII	M
For they might spy beyond that mighty breach	G2
Realms as of Spain in visioned prospect laid	N
Castles and towers in due proportion each	G2
As by some skilful artist's hand portrayed	N
Here crossed by many a wild Sierra's shade	N
And boundless plains that tire the traveller's eye	M
There rich with vineyard and with olive glade	N
Or deep embrowned by forests huge and high	M
Or washed by mighty streams that slowly murmured by	M
	-
XVIII	M
And here as erst upon the antique stage	K
Passed forth the band of masquers trimly led	N
In various forms and various equipage	K
While fitting strains the hearer's fancy fed	N
So to sad Roderick's eye in order spread	N
Successive pageants filled that mystic scene	I
Showing the fate of battles ere they bled	N
And issue of events that had not been	I
And ever and anon strange sounds were heard between	I
	-
XIX	J
First shrilled an unrepeated female shriek	H2
It seemed as if Don Roderick knew the call	D2
For the bold blood was blanching in his cheek	H2
Then answered kettle drum and attabal	D2
Gong peal and cymbal clank the ear appal	D2
The Tecbir war cry and the Lelie's yell	D2
Ring wildly dissonant along the hall	D2
Needs not to Roderick their dread import tell	D2
The Moor he cried the Moor ring out the Tocsin bell	D2
	-
XX	J
They come they come I see the groaning lands	J
White with the turbans of each Arab horde	N
Swart Zaarah joins her misbelieving bands	J
Alla and Mahomet their battle word	N
The choice they yield the Koran or the Sword	N
See how the Christians rush to arms amain	I
In yonder shout the voice of conflict roared	N
The shadowy hosts are closing on the plain	I
Now God and Saint Iago strike for the good cause of Spain	I
	-
XXI	J
By Heaven the Moors prevail the Christians yield	N
Their coward leader gives for flight the sign	I
The sceptred craven mounts to quit the field	N
Is not yon steed Orelio Yes 'tis mine	I
But never was she turned from battle line	I
Lo where the recreant spurs o'er stock and stone	I
Curses pursue the slave and wrath divine	I
Rivers ingulph him Hush in shuddering tone	I
The Prelate said rash Prince yon visioned form's thine own	I
	-
XXII	J
Just then a torrent crossed the flier's course	J
The dangerous ford the Kingly Likeness tried	N
But the deep eddies whelmed both man and horse	J
Swept like benighted peasant down the tide	N
And the proud Moslemah spread far and wide	N
As numerous as their native locust band	N
Berber and Ismael's sons the spoils divide	N
With naked scimitars mete out the land	N
And for the bondsmen base the free born natives brand	N
	-
XXIII	J
Then rose the grated Harem to enclose	J
The loveliest maidens of the Christian line	I
Then menials to their misbelieving foes	J
Castile's young nobles held forbidden wine	I
Then too the holy Cross salvation's sign	I
By impious hands was from the altar thrown	I
And the deep aisles of the polluted shrine	I
Echoed for holy hymn and organ tone	I
The Santon's frantic dance the Fakir's gibbering moan	I
	-
XXIV	M
How fares Don Roderick E'en as one who spies	J
Flames dart their glare o'er midnight's sable woof	M
And hears around his children's piercing cries	J
And sees the pale assistants stand aloof	M
While cruel Conscience brings him bitter proof	M
His folly or his crime have caused his grief	M
And while above him nods the crumbling roof	M
He curses earth and Heaven himself in chief	M
Desperate of earthly aid despairing Heaven's relief	M
	-
XXV	M
That scythe armed Giant turned his fatal glass	J
And twilight on the landscape closed her wings	J
Far to Asturian hills the war sounds pass	J
And in their stead rebeck or timbrel rings	J
And to the sound the bell decked dancer springs	J
Bazars resound as when their marts are met	N
In tourney light the Moor his jerrid flings	J
And on the land as evening seemed to set	N
The Imaum's chant was heard from mosque or minaret	N
	-
XXVI	M
So passed that pageant Ere another came	U
The visionary scene was wrapped in smoke	I2
Whose sulph'rous wreaths were crossed by sheets of flame	U
With every flash a bolt explosive broke	I2
Till Roderick deemed the fiends had burst their yoke	I2
And waved 'gainst heaven the infernal gonfalone	I
For War a new and dreadful language spoke	I2
Never by ancient warrior heard or known	I
Lightning and smoke her breath and thunder was her tone	I
	-
XXVII	M
From the dim landscape rolled the clouds away	J
The Christians have regained their heritage	K
Before the Cross has waned the Crescent's ray	J
And many a monastery decks the stage	K
And lofty church and low browed hermitage	K
The land obeys a Hermit and a Knight	N
The Genii those of Spain for many an age	K
This clad in sackcloth that in armour bright	N
And that was Valour named this bigotry was hight	N
	-
XXVIII	M
Valour was harnessed like a chief of old	N
Armed at all points and prompt for knightly gest	N
His sword was tempered in the Ebro cold	N
Morena's eagle plume adorned his crest	N
The spoils of Afric's lion bound his breast	N
Fierce he stepped forward and flung down his gage	K
As if of mortal kind to brave the best	N
Him followed his Companion dark and sage	K
As he my Master sung the dangerous Archimage	K
	-
XXIX	J
Haughty of heart and brow the Warrior came	U
In look and language proud as proud might be	N
Vaunting his lordship lineage fights and fame	U
Yet was that barefoot Monk more proud than he	N
And as the ivy climbs the tallest tree	N
So round the loftiest soul his toils he wound	N
And with his spells subdued the fierce and free	N
Till ermined Age and Youth in arms renowned	N
Honouring his scourge and haircloth meekly kissed the ground	N
	-
XXX	J
And thus it chanced that Valour peerless knight	N
Who ne'er to King or Kaiser vailed his crest	N
Victorious still in bull feast or in fight	N
Since first his limbs with mail he did invest	N
Stooped ever to that Anchoret's behest	N
Nor reasoned of the right nor of the wrong	R
But at his bidding laid the lance in rest	N
And wrought fell deeds the troubled world along	R
For he was fierce as brave and pitiless as strong	R
	-
XXXI	J
Oft his proud galleys sought some new found world	N
That latest sees the sun or first the morn	I
Still at that Wizard's feet their spoils he hurled	N
Ingots of ore from rich Potosi borne	I
Crowns by Caciques aigrettes by Omrahs worn	I
Wrought of rare gems but broken rent and foul	D2
Idols of gold from heathen temples torn	I
Bedabbled all with blood With grisly scowl	D2
The Hermit marked the stains and smiled beneath his cowl	D2
	-
XXXII	J
Then did he bless the offering and bade make	J2
Tribute to Heaven of gratitude and praise	J
And at his word the choral hymns awake	J2
And many a hand the silver censer sways	J
But with the incense breath these censers raise	J
Mix steams from corpses smouldering in the fire	J
The groans of prisoned victims mar the lays	J
And shrieks of agony confound the quire	J
While 'mid the mingled sounds the darkened scenes expire	J
	-
XXXIII	J
Preluding light were strains of music heard	N
As once again revolved that measured sand	N
Such sounds as when for silvan dance prepared	N
Gay Xeres summons forth her vintage band	N
When for the light bolero ready stand	N
The mozo blithe with gay muchacha met	N
He conscious of his broidered cap and band	N
She of her netted locks and light corsette	N
Each tiptoe perched to spring and shake the castanet	N
	-
XXXIV	M
And well such strains the opening scene became	U
For Valour had relaxed his ardent look	A2
And at a lady's feet like lion tame	U
Lay stretched full loath the weight of arms to brook	A2
And softened bigotry upon his book	A2
Pattered a task of little good or ill	D2
But the blithe peasant plied his pruning hook	A2
Whistled the muleteer o'er vale and hill	D2
And rung from village green the merry seguidille	D2
	-
XXXV	M
Grey Royalty grown impotent of toil	D2
Let the grave sceptre slip his lazy hold	N
And careless saw his rule become the spoil	D2
Of a loose Female and her minion bold	N
But peace was on the cottage and the fold	N
From Court intrigue from bickering faction far	J
Beneath the chestnut tree Love's tale was told	N
And to the tinkling of the light guitar	J
Sweet stooped the western sun sweet rose the evening star	J
	-
XXXVI	M
As that sea cloud in size like human hand	N
When first from Carmel by the Tishbite seen	I
Came slowly overshadowing Israel's land	N
A while perchance bedecked with colours sheen	I
While yet the sunbeams on its skirts had been	I
Limning with purple and with gold its shroud	N
Till darker folds obscured the blue serene	I
And blotted heaven with one broad sable cloud	N
Then sheeted rain burst down and whirlwinds howled aloud	N
	-
XXXVII	M
Even so upon that peaceful scene was poured	N
Like gathering clouds full many a foreign band	N
And HE their Leader wore in sheath his sword	N
And offered peaceful front and open hand	N
Veiling the perjured treachery he planned	N
By friendship's zeal and honour's specious guise	J
Until he won the passes of the land	N
Then burst were honour's oath and friendship's ties	J
He clutched his vulture grasp and called fair Spain his prize	J
	-
XXXVIII	M
An iron crown his anxious forehead bore	J
And well such diadem his heart became	U
Who ne'er his purpose for remorse gave o'er	J
Or checked his course for piety or shame	U
Who trained a soldier deemed a soldier's fame	U
Might flourish in the wreath of battles won	I
Though neither truth nor honour decked his name	U
Who placed by fortune on a Monarch's throne	I
Recked not of Monarch's faith or Mercy's kingly tone	I
	-
XXXIX	J
From a rude isle his ruder lineage came	U
The spark that from a suburb hovel's hearth	K2
Ascending wraps some capital in flame	U
Hath not a meaner or more sordid birth	L2
And for the soul that bade him waste the earth	L2
The sable land flood from some swamp obscure	J
That poisons the glad husband field with dearth	L2
And by destruction bids its fame endure	J
Hath not a source more sullen stagnant and impure	J
	-
XL	D2
Before that Leader strode a shadowy Form	M2
Her limbs like mist her torch like meteor showed	N
With which she beckoned him through fight and storm	M2
And all he crushed that crossed his desperate road	N
Nor thought nor feared nor looked on what he trode	N
Realms could not glut his pride blood could not slake	A2
So oft as e'er she shook her torch abroad	N
It was ambition bade her terrors wake	A2
Nor deigned she as of yore a milder form to take	A2
	-
XLI	D2
No longer now she spurned at mean revenge	K
Or stayed her hand for conquered foeman's moan	I
As when the fates of aged Rome to change	K
By Caesar's side she crossed the Rubicon	I
Nor joyed she to bestow the spoils she won	I
As when the banded powers of Greece were tasked	N
To war beneath the Youth of Macedon	I
No seemly veil her modern minion asked	N
He saw her hideous face and loved the fiend unmasked	N
	-
XLII	D2
That Prelate marked his march On banners blazed	N
With battles won in many a distant land	N
On eagle standards and on arms he gazed	N
And hopest thou then he said thy power shall stand	N
Oh thou hast builded on the shifting sand	N
And thou hast tempered it with slaughter's flood	N
And know fell scourge in the Almighty's hand	N
Gore moistened trees shall perish in the bud	N
And by a bloody death shall die the Man of Blood	N
	-
XLIII	D2
The ruthless Leader beckoned from his train	I
A wan fraternal Shade and bade him kneel	D2
And paled his temples with the crown of Spain	I
While trumpets rang and heralds cried Castile	D2
Not that he loved him No In no man's weal	D2
Scarce in his own e'er joyed that sullen heart	N
Yet round that throne he bade his warriors wheel	D2
That the poor puppet might perform his part	N
And be a sceptred slave at his stern beck to start	N
	-
XLIV	M
But on the Natives of that Land misused	N
Not long the silence of amazement hung	A2
Nor brooked they long their friendly faith abused	N
For with a common shriek the general tongue	A2
Exclaimed To arms and fast to arms they sprung	A2
And Valour woke that Genius of the Land	N
Pleasure and ease and sloth aside he flung	A2
As burst the awakening Nazarite his band	N
When 'gainst his treacherous foes he clenched his dreadful hand	N
	-
XLV	M
That Mimic Monarch now cast anxious eye	M
Upon the Satraps that begirt him round	N
Now doffed his royal robe in act to fly	M
And from his brow the diadem unbound	N
So oft so near the Patriot bugle wound	N
From Tarik's walls to Bilboa's mountains blown	I
These martial satellites hard labour found	N
To guard awhile his substituted throne	I
Light recking of his cause but battling for their own	I
	-
XLVI	M
From Alpuhara's peak that bugle rung	A2
And it was echoed from Corunna's wall	D2
Stately Seville responsive war shot flung	A2
Grenada caught it in her Moorish hall	D2
Galicia bade her children fight or fall	D2
Wild Biscay shook his mountain coronet	N
Valencia roused her at the battle call	D2
And foremost still where Valour's sons are met	N
First started to his gun each fiery Miquelet	N
	-
XLVII	M
But unappalled and burning for the fight	N
The Invaders march of victory secure	J
Skilful their force to sever or unite	N
And trained alike to vanquish or endure	J
Nor skilful less cheap conquest to ensure	J
Discord to breathe and jealousy to sow	J
To quell by boasting and by bribes to lure	J
While nought against them bring the unpractised foe	M
Save hearts for Freedom's cause and hands for Freedom's blow	M
	-
XLVIII	M
Proudly they march but oh they march not forth	N2
By one hot field to crown a brief campaign	I
As when their Eagles sweeping through the North	N2
Destroyed at every stoop an ancient reign	I
Far other fate had Heaven decreed for Spain	I
In vain the steel in vain the torch was plied	N
New Patriot armies started from the slain	I
High blazed the war and long and far and wide	N
And oft the God of Battles blest the righteous side	N
	-
XLIX	J
Nor unatoned where Freedom's foes prevail	D2
Remained their savage waste With blade and brand	N
By day the Invaders ravaged hill and dale	D2
But with the darkness the Guerilla band	N
Came like night's tempest and avenged the land	N
And claimed for blood the retribution due	N
Probed the hard heart and lopped the murd'rous hand	N
And Dawn when o'er the scene her beams she threw	N
'Midst ruins they had made the spoilers' corpses knew	N
	-
L	D2
What minstrel verse may sing or tongue may tell	D2
Amid the visioned strife from sea to sea	J
How oft the Patriot banners rose or fell	D2
Still honoured in defeat as victory	J
For that sad pageant of events to be	J
Showed every form of fight by field and flood	N
Slaughter and Ruin shouting forth their glee	J
Beheld while riding on the tempest scud	N
The waters choked with slain the earth bedrenched with blood	N
	-
LI	J
Then Zaragoza blighted be the tongue	A2
That names thy name without the honour due	N
For never hath the harp of Minstrel rung	A2
Of faith so felly proved so firmly true	N
Mine sap and bomb thy shattered ruins knew	N
Each art of war's extremity had room	C2
Twice from thy half sacked streets the foe withdrew	N
And when at length stern fate decreed thy doom	C2
They won not Zaragoza but her children's bloody tomb	C2
	-
LII	J
Yet raise thy head sad city Though in chains	J
Enthralled thou canst not be Arise and claim	U
Reverence from every heart where Freedom reigns	J
For what thou worshippest thy sainted dame	U
She of the Column honoured be her name	U
By all whate'er their creed who honour love	M
And like the sacred relics of the flame	U
That gave some martyr to the blessed above	M
To every loyal heart may thy sad embers prove	M
	-
LIII	J
Nor thine alone such wreck Gerona fair	J
Faithful to death thy heroes shall be sung	A2
Manning the towers while o'er their heads the air	J
Swart as the smoke from raging furnace hung	A2
Now thicker darkening where the mine was sprung	A2
Now briefly lightened by the cannon's flare	J
Now arched with fire sparks as the bomb was flung	A2
And reddening now with conflagration's glare	J
While by the fatal light the foes for storm prepare	J
	-
LIV	M
While all around was danger strife and fear	J
While the earth shook and darkened was the sky	M
And wide Destruction stunned the listening ear	J
Appalled the heart and stupefied the eye	M
Afar was heard that thrice repeated cry	M
In which old Albion's heart and tongue unite	N
Whene'er her soul is up and pulse beats high	M
Whether it hail the wine cup or the fight	N
And bid each arm be strong or bid each heart be light	N
	-
LV	M
Don Roderick turned him as the shout grew loud	N
A varied scene the changeful vision showed	N
For where the ocean mingled with the cloud	N
A gallant navy stemmed the billows broad	N
From mast and stern St George's symbol flowed	N
Blent with the silver cross to Scotland dear	J
Mottling the sea their landward barges rowed	N
And flashed the sun on bayonet brand and spear	J
And the wild beach returned the seamen's jovial cheer	J
	-
LVI	M
It was a dread yet spirit stirring sight	N
The billows foamed beneath a thousand oars	J
Fast as they land the red cross ranks unite	N
Legions on legions bright'ning all the shores	J
Then banners rise and cannon signal roars	J
Then peals the warlike thunder of the drum	O2
Thrills the loud fife the trumpet flourish pours	J
And patriot hopes awake and doubts are dumb	O2
For bold in Freedom's cause the bands of Ocean come	O2
	-
LVII	M
A various host they came whose ranks display	J
Each mode in which the warrior meets the fight	N
The deep battalion locks its firm array	J
And meditates his aim the marksman light	N
Far glance the light of sabres flashing bright	N
Where mounted squadrons shake the echoing mead	N
Lacks not artillery breathing flame and night	N
Nor the fleet ordnance whirled by rapid steed	N
That rivals lightning's flash in ruin and in speed	N
	-
LVIII	M
A various host from kindred realms they came	U
Brethren in arms but rivals in renown	I
For yon fair bands shall merry England claim	U
And with their deeds of Valour deck her crown	I
Hers their bold port and hers their martial frown	I
And hers their scorn of death in freedom's cause	J
Their eyes of azure and their locks of brown	I
And the blunt speech that bursts without a pause	J
And free born thoughts which league the Soldier with the Laws	J
	-
LIX	J
And oh loved warriors of the Minstrel's land	N
Yonder your bonnets nod your tartans wave	M
The rugged form may mark the mountain band	N
And harsher features and a mien more grave	M
But ne'er in battlefield throbbed heart so brave	M
As that which beats beneath the Scottish plaid	N
And when the pibroch bids the battle rave	M
And level for the charge your arms are laid	N
Where lives the desperate foe that for such onset stayed	N
	-
LX	J
Hark from yon stately ranks what laughter rings	J
Mingling wild mirth with war's stern minstrelsy	J
His jest while each blithe comrade round him flings	J
And moves to death with military glee	J
Boast Erin boast them tameless frank and free	J
In kindness warm and fierce in danger known	I
Rough Nature's children humorous as she	J
And HE yon Chieftain strike the proudest tone	I
Of thy bold harp green Isle the Hero is thine own	I
	-
LXI	J
Now on the scene Vimeira should be shown	I
On Talavera's fight should Roderick gaze	J
And hear Corunna wail her battle won	I
And see Busaco's crest with lightning blaze	J
But shall fond fable mix with heroes' praise	J
Hath Fiction's stage for Truth's long triumphs room	C2
And dare her wild flowers mingle with the bays	J
That claim a long eternity to bloom	C2
Around the warrior's crest and o'er the warrior's tomb	C2
	-
LXII	J
Or may I give adventurous Fancy scope	P2
And stretch a bold hand to the awful veil	J
That hides futurity from anxious hope	P2
Bidding beyond it scenes of glory hail	J
And painting Europe rousing at the tale	J
Of Spain's invaders from her confines hurled	N
While kindling nations buckle on their mail	J
And Fame with clarion blast and wings unfurled	N
To Freedom and Revenge awakes an injured World	N
	-
LXIII	J
O vain though anxious is the glance I cast	N
Since Fate has marked futurity her own	I
Yet Fate resigns to worth the glorious past	N
The deeds recorded and the laurels won	I
Then though the Vault of bigotry be gone	I
King Prelate all the phantasms of my brain	I
Melted away like mist wreaths in the sun	I
Yet grant for faith for Valour and for Spain	I
One note of pride and fire a Patriot's parting strain	I
	-
	-
CONCLUSION	I
	-
I	M
Who shall command Estrella's mountain tide	N
Back to the source when tempest chafed to hie	N
Who when Gascogne's vexed gulf is raging wide	N
Shall hush it as a nurse her infant's cry	M
His magic power let such vain boaster try	M
And when the torrent shall his voice obey	J
And Biscay's whirlwinds list his lullaby	M
Let him stand forth and bar mine eagles' way	J
And they shall heed his voice and at his bidding stay	J
	-
II	M
Else ne'er to stoop till high on Lisbon's towers	J
They close their wings the symbol of our yoke	A2
And their own sea hath whelmed yon red cross powers	J
Thus on the summit of Alverca's rock	A2
To Marshal Duke and Peer Gaul's Leader spoke	A2
While downward on the land his legions press	J
Before them it was rich with vine and flock	A2
And smiled like Eden in her summer dress	J
Behind their wasteful march a reeking wilderness	J
	-
III	M
And shall the boastful Chief maintain his word	N
Though Heaven hath heard the wailings of the land	N
Though Lusitania whet her vengeful sword	N
Though Britons arm and Wellington command	N
No grim Busaco's iron ridge shall stand	N
An adamantine barrier to his force	J
And from its base shall wheel his shattered band	N
As from the unshaken rock the torrent hoarse	J
Bears off its broken waves and seeks a devious course	J
	-
IV	M
Yet not because Alcoba's mountain hawk	A2
Hath on his best and bravest made her food	N
In numbers confident yon Chief shall baulk	A2
His Lord's imperial thirst for spoil and blood	N
For full in view the promised conquest stood	N
And Lisbon's matrons from their walls might sum	O2
The myriads that had half the world subdued	N
And hear the distant thunders of the drum	O2
That bids the bands of France to storm and havoc come	O2
	-
V	M
Four moons have heard these thunders idly rolled	N
Have seen these wistful myriads eye their prey	J
As famished wolves survey a guarded fold	N
But in the middle path a Lion lay	J
At length they move but not to battle fray	J
Nor blaze yon fires where meets the manly fight	N
Beacons of infamy they light the way	J
Where cowardice and cruelty unite	N
To damn with double shame their ignominious flight	N
	-
VI	M
O triumph for the Fiends of Lust and Wrath	Q2
Ne'er to be told yet ne'er to be forgot	N
What wanton horrors marked their wreckful path	Q2
The peasant butchered in his ruined cot	N
The hoary priest even at the altar shot	N
Childhood and age given o'er to sword and flame	U
Woman to infamy no crime forgot	N
By which inventive demons might proclaim	U
Immortal hate to man and scorn of God's great name	U
	-
VII	M
The rudest sentinel in Britain born	I
With horror paused to view the havoc done	I
Gave his poor crust to feed some wretch forlorn	I
Wiped his stern eye then fiercer grasped his gun	I
Nor with less zeal shall Britain's peaceful son	I
Exult the debt of sympathy to pay	J
Riches nor poverty the tax shall shun	I
Nor prince nor peer the wealthy nor the gay	J
Nor the poor peasant's mite nor bard's more worthless lay	J
	-
VIII	M
But thou unfoughten wilt thou yield to Fate	N
Minion of Fortune now miscalled in vain	I
Can vantage ground no confidence create	N
Marcella's pass nor Guarda's mountain chain	I
Vainglorious fugitive yet turn again	I
Behold where named by some prophetic Seer	J
Flows Honour's Fountain as foredoomed the stain	I
From thy dishonoured name and arms to clear	J
Fallen Child of Fortune turn redeem her favour here	J
	-
IX	J
Yet ere thou turn'st collect each distant aid	N
Those chief that never heard the lion roar	J
Within whose souls lives not a trace portrayed	N
Of Talavera or Mondego's shore	J
Marshal each band thou hast and summon more	J
Of war's fell stratagems exhaust the whole	J
Rank upon rank squadron on squadron pour	J
Legion on legion on thy foeman roll	J
And weary out his arm thou canst not quell his soul	J
	-
X	J
O vainly gleams with steel Agueda's shore	J
Vainly thy squadrons hide Assuava's plain	I
And front the flying thunders as they roar	J
With frantic charge and tenfold odds in vain	I
And what avails thee that for Cameron slain	I
Wild from his plaided ranks the yell was given	I
Vengeance and grief gave mountain range the rein	I
And at the bloody spear point headlong driven	I
Thy Despot's giant guards fled like the rack of heaven	I
	-
XI	J
Go baffled boaster teach thy haughty mood	N
To plead at thine imperious master's throne	I
Say thou hast left his legions in their blood	N
Deceived his hopes and frustrated thine own	I
Say that thine utmost skill and Valour shown	I
By British skill and Valour were outvied	N
Last say thy conqueror was Wellington	I
And if he chafe be his own fortune tried	N
God and our cause to friend the venture we'll abide	N
	-
XII	J
But you ye heroes of that well fought day	N
How shall a bard unknowing and unknown	I
His meed to each victorious leader pay	N
Or bind on every brow the laurels won	I
Yet fain my harp would wake its boldest tone	I
O'er the wide sea to hail CADOGAN brave	M
And he perchance the minstrel note might own	I
Mindful of meeting brief that Fortune gave	M
'Mid yon far western isles that hear the Atlantic rave	M
	-
XIII	J
Yes hard the task when Britons wield the sword	N
To give each Chief and every field its fame	U
Hark Albuera thunders Beresford	N
And Red Barosa shouts for dauntless Graeme	U
O for a verse of tumult and of flame	U
Bold as the bursting of their cannon sound	N
To bid the world re echo to their fame	U
For never upon gory battle ground	N
With conquest's well bought wreath were braver victors crowned	N
	-
XIV	M
O who shall grudge him Albuera's bays	J
Who brought a race regenerate to the field	N
Roused them to emulate their fathers' praise	J
Tempered their headlong rage their courage steeled	N
And raised fair Lusitania's fallen shield	N
And gave new edge to Lusitania's sword	N
And taught her sons forgotten arms to wield	N
Shivered my harp and burst its every chord	N
If it forget thy worth victorious Beresford	N
	-
XV	M
Not on that bloody field of battle won	I
Though Gaul's proud legions rolled like mist away	N
Was half his self devoted Valour shown	I
He gaged but life on that illustrious day	N
But when he toiled those squadrons to array	N
Who fought like Britons in the bloody game	U
Sharper than Polish pike or assagay	J
He braved the shafts of censure and of shame	U
And dearer far than life he pledged a soldier's fame	U
	-
XVI	M
Nor be his praise o'erpast who strove to hide	N
Beneath the warrior's vest affection's wound	N
Whose wish Heaven for his country's weal denied	N
Danger and fate he sought but glory found	N
From clime to clime where'er war's trumpets sound	N
The wanderer went yet Caledonia still	J
Thine was his thought in march and tented ground	N
He dreamed 'mid Alpine cliffs of Athole's hill	J
And heard in Ebro's roar his Lyndoch's lovely rill	J
	-
XVII	M
O hero of a race renowned of old	N
Whose war cry oft has waked the battle swell	J
Since first distinguished in the onset bold	N
Wild sounding when the Roman rampart fell	J
By Wallace' side it rung the Southron's knell	J
Alderne Kilsythe and Tibber owned its fame	U
Tummell's rude pass can of its terrors tell	J
But ne'er from prouder field arose the name	U
Than when wild Ronda learned the conquering shout of Graeme	U
	-
XVIII	M
But all too long through seas unknown and dark	J
With Spenser's parable I close my tale	J
By shoal and rock hath steered my venturous bark	J
And landward now I drive before the gale	J
And now the blue and distant shore I hail	J
And nearer now I see the port expand	N
And now I gladly furl my weary sail	J
And as the prow light touches on the strand	N
I strike my red cross flag and bind my skiff to land	N

Walter Scott (sir)

Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation

<< The Violet Poem The Wild Huntsman Poem>>

Write your comment about The Vision Of Don Roderick poem by Walter Scott (sir)

Best Poems of Walter Scott (sir)

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 1 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Wonderful Women
by Umaru Kanneh Boima
Freedom To Scratch In Peace
by Olute Aete
Happy New Year
by Felix Menda
Human Beings
by Dana Graslie
Lust
by Wisdom Greatness
An Isolated Tree's Song
by Sayeed Abubakar
A Strange Boy
by Sayeed Abubakar
O Soil
by Sayeed Abubakar
No War, No War-monger
by Sayeed Abubakar
Night's Town
by Sayeed Abubakar

Popular Poets

1. Emily Dickinson(2414 poems)
2. Madison Julius Cawein(1231 poems)
3. Ella Wheeler Wilcox(1136 poems)
4. William Wordsworth(1016 poems)
5. Robert Burns(986 poems)
6. Edgar Albert Guest(945 poems)
7. Thomas Moore(849 poems)
8. Robert Service(831 poems)