The Island Of The Scots Poem Rhyme Scheme

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William Edmondstoune Aytoun

The Island Of The Scots Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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I	A
	-
The Rhine is running deep and red	B
The island lies before	C
'Now is there one of all the host	D
Will dare to venture o'er	E
For not alone the river's sweep	F
Might make a brave man quail	G
The foe are on the further side	H
Their shot comes fast as hail	G
God help us if the middle isle	I
We may not hope to win	J
Now is there any of the host	D
Will dare to venture in '	-
	-
	-
II	A
	-
'The ford is deep the banks are steep	F
The island shore lies wide	H
Nor man nor horse could stem its force	K
Or reach the further side	H
See there amidst the willow boughs	L
The serried bayonets gleam	M
They've flung their bridge they've won the isle	I
The foe have crossed the stream	M
Their volley flashes sharp and strong	N
By all the Saints I trow	O
There never yet was soldier born	P
Could force that passage now '	-
	-
	-
III	A
	-
So spoke the bold French Mareschal	I
With him who led the van	Q
Whilst rough and red before their view	R
The turbid river ran	Q
Nor bridge nor boat had they to cross	S
The wild and swollen Rhine	T
And thundering on the other bank	U
Far stretched the German line	T
Hard by there stood a swarthy man	Q
Was leaning on his sword	V
And a saddened smile lit up his face	W
As he heard the Captain's word	X
'I've seen a wilder stream ere now	Y
Than that which rushes there	Z
I've stemmed a heavier torrent yet	A2
And never thought to dare	Z
If German steel be sharp and keen	B2
Is ours not strong and true	R
There may be danger in the deed	C2
But there is honour too '	-
	-
	-
IV	R
	-
The old lord in his saddle turned	D2
And hastily he said	B
'Hath bold Dugueselin's fiery heart	E2
Awakened from the dead	B
Thou art the leader of the Scots	F2
Now well and sure I know	O
That gentle blood in dangerous hour	E
Ne'er yet ran cold nor slow	O
And I have seen ye in the fight	G2
Do all that mortal may	H2
If honour is the boon ye seek	I2
It may be won this day	H2
The prize is in the middle isle	I
There lies the venturous way	H2
And armies twain are on the plain	J2
The daring deed to see	K2
Now ask thy gallant company	K2
If they will follow thee '	-
	-
	-
V	K2
	-
Right gladsome looked the Captain then	L2
And nothing did he say	H2
But he turned him to his little band	M2
Oh few I ween were they	H2
The relics of the bravest force	K
That ever fought in fray	H2
No one of all that company	K2
But bore a gentle name	N2
Not one whose fathers had not stood	O2
In Scotland's fields of fame	N2
All they had marched with great Dundee	K2
To where he fought and fell	I
And in the deadly battle strife	R
Had venged their leader well	I
And they had bent the knee to earth	P2
When every eye was dim	Q2
As o'er their hero's buried corpse	R2
They sang the funeral hymn	Q2
And they had trod the Pass once more	C
And stooped on either side	H
To pluck the heather from the spot	S2
Where he had dropped and died	H
And they had bound it next their hearts	T2
And ta'en a last farewell	I
Of Scottish earth and Scottish sky	A
Where Scotland's glory fell	I
Then went they forth to foreign lands	U2
Like bent and broken men	L2
Who leave their dearest hope behind	V2
And may not turn again	L2
	-
	-
VI	A
	-
'The stream ' he said 'is broad and deep	F
And stubborn is the foe	O
Yon island strength is guarded well	I
Say brothers will ye go	O
From home and kin for many a year	W2
Our steps have wandered wide	H
And never may our bones be laid	X2
Our fathers' graves beside	H
No sisters have we to lament	Y2
No wives to wail our fall	I
The traitor's and the spoiler's hand	M2
Have reft our hearths of all	I
But we have hearts and we have arms	Z2
As strong to will and dare	Z
As when our ancient banners flew	R
Within the northern air	Z
Come brothers let me name a spell	I
Shall rouse your souls again	L2
And send the old blood bounding free	K2
Through pulse and heart and vein	J2
Call back the days of bygone years	A3
Be young and strong once more	C
Think yonder stream so stark and red	B
Is one we've crossed before	C
Rise hill and glen rise crag and wood	O2
Rise up on either hand	M2
Again upon the Garry's banks	B3
On Scottish soil we stand	M2
Again I see the tartans wave	R
Again the trumpets ring	C3
Again I hear our leader's call	I
'Upon them for the King '	-
Stayed we behind that glorious day	H2
For roaring flood or linn	J
The soul of Gr me is with us still	I
Now brothers will ye in '	-
	-
	-
VII	R
	-
No stay no pause With one accord	V
They grasped each others' hand	M2
And plunged into the angry flood	D3
That bold and dauntless band	M2
High flew the spray above their heads	E3
Yet onward still they bore	C
Midst cheer and shout and answering yell	I
And shot and cannon roar	C
'Now by the Holy Cross I swear	Z
Since earth and sea began	Q
Was never such a daring deed	C2
Essayed by mortal man '	-
	-
	-
VIII	R
	-
Thick blew the smoke across the stream	M
And faster flashed the flame	N2
The water plashed in hissing jets	F3
As ball and bullet came	N2
Yet onwards pushed the Cavaliers	A3
All stern and undismayed	C2
With thousand arm d foes before	C
And none behind to aid	C2
Once as they neared the middle stream	M
So strong the torrent swept	C2
That scarce that long and living wall	I
Their dangerous footing kept	C2
Then rose a warning cry behind	C2
A joyous shout before	C
'The current's strong the way is long	N
They'll never reach the shore	C
See see They stagger in the midst	C2
They waver in their line	T
Fire on the madmen break their ranks	B3
And whelm them in the Rhine '	-
	-
	-
IX	B3
	-
Have you seen the tall trees swaying	C3
When the blast is piping shrill	I
And the whirlwind reels in fury	K2
Down the gorges of the hill	I
How they toss their mighty branches	B3
Striving with the tempest's shock	G3
How they keep their place of vantage	H3
Cleaving firmly to the rock	G3
Even so the Scottish warriors	B3
Held their own against the river	E
Though the water flashed around them	I3
Not an eye was seen to quiver	E
Though the shot flew sharp and deadly	K2
Not a man relaxed his hold	C2
For their hearts were big and thrilling	C3
With the mighty thoughts of old	C2
One word was spoke among them	I3
And through the ranks it spread	C2
'Remember our dead Claverhouse '	-
Was all the Captain said	C2
Then sternly bending forward	C2
They struggled on awhile	I
Until they cleared the heavy stream	M
Then rushed towards the isle	I
	-
	-
X	B3
	-
The German heart is stout and true	R
The German arm is strong	N
The German foot goes seldom back	J3
Where arm d foemen throng	N
But never had they faced in field	C2
So stern a charge before	C
And never had they felt the sweep	F
Of Scotland's broad claymore	C
Not fiercer pours the avalanche	K3
Adown the steep incline	T
That rises o'er the parent springs	B3
Of rough and rapid Rhine	T
Scarce swifter shoots the bolt from heaven	L3
Than came the Scottish band	C2
Right up against the guarded trench	M3
And o'er it sword in hand	C2
In vain their leaders forward press	B3
They meet the deadly brand	C2
O lonely island of the Rhine	T
Where seed was never sown	N3
What harvest lay upon thy sands	B3
By those strong reapers thrown	N3
What saw the winter moon that night	C2
As struggling through the rain	J2
She poured a wan and fitful light	C2
On marsh and stream and plain	J2
A dreary spot with corpses strewn	O3
And bayonets glistening round	C2
A broken bridge a stranded boat	C2
A bare and battered mound	C2
And one huge watch fire's kindled pile	I
That sent its quivering glare	Z
To tell the leaders of the host	C2
The conquering Scots were there	Z
	-
	-
XI	K2
	-
And did they twine the laurel wreath	P3
For those who fought so well	I
And did they honour those who lived	C2
And weep for those who fell	I
What meed of thanks was given to them	I3
Let aged annals tell	I
Why should they twine the laurel wreath	P3
Why crown the cup with wine	T
It was not Frenchman's blood that flowed	C2
So freely on the Rhine	T
A stranger band of beggared men	L2
Had done the venturous deed	C2
The glory was to France alone	N3
The danger was their meed	C2
And what cared they for idle thanks	B3
From foreign prince and peer	W2
What virtue had such honeyed words	B3
The exiles' hearts to cheer	W2
What mattered it that men should vaunt	C2
And loud and fondly swear	Z
That higher feat of chivalry	K2
Was never wrought elsewhere	Z
They bore within their breasts	B3