The Harp Of Hoel.[1] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAAB CDCCD ECEEC CCCCC CFCCF GDGGD CHCCH IJIKL CMCCN COCCO PQPPQ RDRRD SCTSC UHUVW XYVXY CZCCZ A2YA2A2Y B2CC2C2C CD2CCD2 VRVVR CE2CCE2 YF2YYF2 CGCCG RD2RRG2 XCXXC T CTCSVV F2VF2VCRCRVV VCVVC XOXXO BCBBC COCCO XCXXCIt was a high and holy sight | A |
When Baldwin and his train | B |
With cross and crosier gleaming bright | A |
Came chanting slow the solemn rite | A |
To Gwentland's pleasant plain | B |
- | |
High waved before in crimson pride | C |
The banner of the Cross | D |
The silver rood was then descried | C |
While deacon youths from side to side | C |
The fuming censer toss | D |
- | |
The monks went two and two along | E |
And winding through the glade | C |
Sang as they passed a holy song | E |
And harps and citterns 'mid the throng | E |
A mingled music made | C |
- | |
They ceased when lifting high his hand | C |
The white robed prelate cried | C |
Arise arise at Christ's command | C |
To fight for his name in the Holy Land | C |
Where a Saviour lived and died | C |
- | |
With gloves of steel and good broadsword | C |
And plumed helm of brass | F |
Hoel Landoga's youthful lord | C |
To hear the father's holy word | C |
Came riding to the pass | F |
- | |
More earnestly the prelate spake | G |
Oh heed no earthly loss | D |
He who will friends and home forsake | G |
Now let him kneel and fearless take | G |
The sign of the Holy Cross | D |
- | |
Then many a maid her tresses rent | C |
And did her love implore | H |
Oh go not thou to banishment | C |
For me and the pleasant vales of Gwent | C |
Thou never wilt see more | H |
- | |
And many a mother pale with fears | I |
Did kiss her infant son | J |
Said Who will shield thy helpless years | I |
Who dry thy widowed mother's tears | K |
When thy brave father's gone | L |
- | |
GOD with firm voice the prelate cried | C |
God will the orphan bless | M |
Sustain the widow's heart and guide | C |
Through the hard world obscure and wild | C |
The poor and fatherless | N |
- | |
Then might you see a shade o'ercast | C |
Brave Hoel's ruddy hue | O |
But soon the moment's thought is past | C |
Hark hark 'tis the trumpet's stirring blast | C |
And he grasped his bow of yew | O |
- | |
Then might you see a moment's gloom | P |
Sit in brave Hoel's eye | Q |
Make in the stranger's land my tomb | P |
I follow thee be it my doom | P |
O CHRIST to live or die | Q |
- | |
No more he thought though rich in fee | R |
Of any earthly loss | D |
But lighting on his bended knee | R |
Said Father here I take from thee | R |
The sign of the Holy Cross | D |
- | |
I have a wife to me more dear | S |
Then is my own heart's blood | C |
I have a child a starting tear | T |
Which soon he dried of love sincere | S |
On his stern eyelid stood | C |
- | |
To them farewell O God above | U |
Thine is the fate of war | H |
But oh reward Gwenlhian's love | U |
And may my son a comfort prove | V |
When I am distant far | W |
- | |
Farewell my harp away away | X |
To the field of death I go | Y |
Welcome the trumpet's blast the neigh | V |
Of my bold and barbed steed of gray | X |
And the clang of the steel crossbow | Y |
- | |
Gwenlhian sat in the hall at night | C |
Counting the heavy hours | Z |
She saw the moon with tranquil light | C |
Shine on the circling mountain's height | C |
And the dim castle towers | Z |
- | |
Deep stillness was on hill and glen | A2 |
When she heard a bugle blow | Y |
A trump from the watch tower answered then | A2 |
And the tramp of steeds and the voice of men | A2 |
Were heard in the court below | Y |
- | |
The watch dog started at the noise | B2 |
Then crouched at his master's feet | C |
He knew his step he heard his voice | C2 |
But who can now like her rejoice | C2 |
Who flies her own lord to greet | C |
- | |
And soon her arms his neck enfold | C |
But whence that altered mien | D2 |
O say then is thy love grown cold | C |
Or hast thou been hurt by the robbers bold | C |
That won in the forest of Dean | D2 |
- | |
Oh no he cried the God above | V |
Who all my soul can see | R |
Knows my sincere my fervent love | V |
If aught my stern resolve could move | V |
It were one tear from thee | R |
- | |
But I have sworn in the Holy Land | C |
Need I the sequel speak | E2 |
Too well she cried I understand | C |
Then grasped in agony his hand | C |
And hid her face on his cheek | E2 |
- | |
My loved Gwenlhian weep not so | Y |
From the lid that tear I kiss | F2 |
Though to the wars far off I go | Y |
Betide me weal betide me woe | Y |
We yet may meet in bliss | F2 |
- | |
Fourteen suns their course had rolled | C |
When firmly thus he spake | G |
Hear now my last request behold | C |
This ring it is of purest gold | C |
Love keep it for my sake | G |
- | |
When summers seven have robed each tree | R |
And clothed the vales with green | D2 |
If I come not back then thou art free | R |
To wed or not and to think of me | R |
As I had never been | G2 |
- | |
Nay answer not what wouldst thou say | X |
Come let my harp be brought | C |
For the last time I fain would play | X |
Ere yet we part our favourite lay | X |
And cheat severer thought | C |
- | |
The Air | T |
- | |
Oh cast every care to the wind | C |
And dry best beloved the tear | T |
Secure that thou ever shalt find | C |
The friend of thy bosom sincere | S |
Still friendship shall live in the breast of the brave | V |
And we'll love the long day where the forest trees wave | V |
- | |
I have felt each emotion of bliss | F2 |
That affection the fondest can prove | V |
Have received on my lip the first kiss | F2 |
Of thy holy and innocent love | V |
But perish each hope of delight | C |
Like the flashes of night on the sea | R |
If ever though far from thy sight | C |
My soul is forgetful of thee | R |
Still the memory shall live in the breast of the brave | V |
How we loved the long day where the forest trees wave | V |
- | |
Now bring my boy may God above | V |
Shower blessings on his head | C |
May he requite his mother's love | V |
And to her age a comfort prove | V |
When I perhaps am dead | C |
- | |
The beams of morn on his helm did play | X |
And aloud the bugle blew | O |
Then he leaped on his harnessed steed of gray | X |
And sighed to the winds as he galloped f away | X |
Adieu my heart's love adieu | O |
- | |
And now he has joined the warrior train | B |
Of knights and barons bold | C |
That bound to Salem's holy plain | B |
Across the gently swelling main | B |
Their course exulting hold | C |
- | |
With a cross of gold as on they passed | C |
The crimson streamers flew | O |
The shields hung glittering round the mast | C |
And on the waves a radiance cast | C |
Whilst all the trumpets blew | O |
- | |
O'er the Severn surge in long array | X |
So the proud galleys went | C |
Till soon as dissolved in ether gray | X |
The woods and the shores and the Holms steal away | X |
And the long blue hills of Gwent | C |
William Lisle Bowles
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Harp Of Hoel.[1] poem by William Lisle Bowles
Best Poems of William Lisle Bowles