The Touchstone Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABBA BCCB DEED BFF GBB BBBB HEEH EIIE| A man there came whence none could tell | A |
| Bearing a Touchstone in his hand | B |
| And tested all things in the land | B |
| By its unerring spell | A |
| - | |
| Quick birth of transmutation smote | B |
| The fair to foul the foul to fair | C |
| Purple nor ermine did he spare | C |
| Nor scorn the dusty coat | B |
| - | |
| Of heirloom jewels prized so much | D |
| Were many changed to chips and clods | E |
| And even statues of the Gods | E |
| Crumbled beneath its touch | D |
| - | |
| Then angrily the people cried | B |
| 'The loss outweighs the profit far | F |
| Our goods suffice us as they are | F |
| We will not have then tried ' | - |
| - | |
| And since they could not so prevail | G |
| To check this unrelenting guest | B |
| They seized him saying 'Let him test | B |
| How real it is our jail ' | - |
| - | |
| But though they slew him with the sword | B |
| And in a fire his Touchstone burn'd | B |
| Its doings could not be o'erturned | B |
| Its undoings restored | B |
| - | |
| And when to stop all future harm | H |
| They strew'd its ashes on the breeze | E |
| They little guess'd each grain of these | E |
| Convey'd the perfect charm | H |
| - | |
| North south in rings and amulets | E |
| Throughout the crowded world 'tis borne | I |
| Which as a fashion long outworn | I |
| In ancient mind forgets | E |
William Allingham
(1)
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