The Which's Ballad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABCB DDEFE GGDHD IIJKJ LLMJM EENHN OOPQP PPRPR EESES OOOOO EEEOE OPTAT UUOOO OOEEE PPOOEO OOBEB BBPEP VVPWP PPXWX EEBEEBB PPEEE OOEEE WWHEHE OOWOB PPBPE PWBWB OOPYP

O I hae come from far awayA
From a warm land far awayA
A southern land across the seaB
With sailor lads about the mastC
Merry and canny and kind to meB
-
And I hae been to yon townD
To try my luck in yon townD
Nort and Mysie Elspie tooE
Right braw we were to pass the gateF
Wi' gowden clasps on girdles blueE
-
Mysie smiled wi' miminy mouthG
Innocent mouth miminy mouthG
Elspie wore a scarlet gownD
Nort's grey eyes were unco' glegH
My Castile comb was like a crownD
-
We walk'd abreast all up the streetI
Into the market up the streetI
Our hair with marigolds was woundJ
Our bodices with love knots lacedK
Our merchandise with tansy boundJ
-
Nort had chickens I had cocksL
Gamesome cocks loud crowing cocksL
Mysie ducks and Elspie drakesM
For a wee groat or a poundJ
We lost nae time wi' gives and takesM
-
Lost nae time for well we knewE
In our sleeves full well we knewE
When the gloaming came that nightN
Duck nor drake nor hen nor cockH
Would be found by candle lightN
-
And when our chaffering all was doneO
All was paid for sold and doneO
We drew a glove on ilka handP
We sweetly curtsied each to eachQ
And deftly danced a sarabandP
-
The market lassies look'd and laugh'dP
Left their gear and look'd and laugh'dP
They made as they would join the gameR
But soon their mithers wild and wudP
With whack and screech they stopp'd the sameR
-
Sae loud the tongues o' randies grewE
The flytin' and the skirlin' grewE
At all the windows in the placeS
Wi' spoons or knives wi' needle or awlE
Was thrust out every hand and faceS
-
And down each stair they throng'd anonO
Gentle semple throng'd anonO
Souter and tailor frowsy NanO
The ancient widow young againO
Simpering behind her fanO
-
Without a choice against their willE
Doited dazed against their willE
The market lassie and her mitherE
The farmer and his husbandmanO
Hand in hand dance a' thegitherE
-
Slow at first but faster soonO
Still increasing wild and fastP
Hoods and mantles hats and hoseT
Blindly doff'd and cast awayA
Left them naked heads and toesT
-
They would have torn us limb from limbU
Dainty limb from dainty limbU
But never one of them could winO
Across the line that I had drawnO
With bleeding thumb a widdershinO
-
But there was Jeff the provost's sonO
Jeff the provost's only sonO
There was Father Auld himsel'E
The Lombard frae the hostelryE
And the lawyer Peter FellE
-
All goodly men we singled outP
Waled them well and singled outP
And drew them by the left hand inO
Mysie the priest and Elspie wonO
The Lombard Nort the lawyer carleE
I mysel' the provost's sonO
-
Then with cantrip kisses sevenO
Three times round with kisses sevenO
Warp'd and woven there spun weB
Arms and legs and flaming hairE
Like a whirlwind on the seaB
-
Like a wind that sucks the seaB
Over and in and on the seaB
Good sooth it was a mad delightP
And every man of all the fourE
Shut his eyes and laugh'd outrightP
-
Laugh'd as long as they had breathV
Laugh'd while they had sense or breathV
And close about us coil'd a mistP
Of gnats and midges wasps and fliesW
Like the whirlwind shaft it ristP
-
Drawn up I was right off my feetP
Into the mist and off my feetP
And dancing on each chimney topX
I saw a thousand darling impsW
Keeping time with skip and hopX
-
And on the provost's brave ridge tileE
On the provost's grand ridge tileE
The Blackamoor first to master meB
I saw I saw that winsome smileE
The mouth that did my heart beguileE
And spoke the great Word over meB
In the land beyond the seaB
-
I call'd his name I call'd aloudP
Alas I call'd on him aloudP
And then he fill'd his hand with stourE
And threw it towards me in the airE
My mouse flew out I lost my pow'rE
-
My lusty strength my power were goneO
Power was gone and all was goneO
He will not let me love him moreE
Of bell and whip and horse's tailE
He cares not if I find a storeE
-
But I am proud if he is fierceW
I am as proud as he is fierceW
I'll turn about and backward goH
If I meet again that BlackamoorE
And he'll help us then for he shall knowH
I seek another paramourE
-
And we'll gang once more to yon townO
Wi' better luck to yon townO
We'll walk in silk and cramoisieW
And I shall wed the provost's sonO
My lady of the town I'll beB
-
For I was born a crown'd king's childP
Born and nursed a king's childP
King o' a land ayont the seaB
Where the Blackamoor kiss'd me firstP
And taught me art and glamourieE
-
Each one in her wame shall hideP
Her hairy mouse her wary mouseW
Fed on madwort and agramieB
Wear amber beads between her breastsW
And blind worm's skin about her kneeB
-
The Lombard shall be Elspie's manO
Elspie's gowden husband manO
Nort shall take the lawyer's handP
The priest shall swear another vowY
We'll dance again the sarabandP

William Bell Scott



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