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 XCXXC

It was a high and holy sightA
When Baldwin and his trainB
With cross and crosier gleaming brightA
Came chanting slow the solemn riteA
To Gwentland's pleasant plainB
-
High waved before in crimson prideC
The banner of the CrossD
The silver rood was then descriedC
While deacon youths from side to sideC
The fuming censer tossD
-
The monks went two and two alongE
And winding through the gladeC
Sang as they passed a holy songE
And harps and citterns 'mid the throngE
A mingled music madeC
-
They ceased when lifting high his handC
The white robed prelate criedC
Arise arise at Christ's commandC
To fight for his name in the Holy LandC
Where a Saviour lived and diedC
-
With gloves of steel and good broadswordC
And plumed helm of brassF
Hoel Landoga's youthful lordC
To hear the father's holy wordC
Came riding to the passF
-
More earnestly the prelate spakeG
Oh heed no earthly lossD
He who will friends and home forsakeG
Now let him kneel and fearless takeG
The sign of the Holy CrossD
-
Then many a maid her tresses rentC
And did her love imploreH
Oh go not thou to banishmentC
For me and the pleasant vales of GwentC
Thou never wilt see moreH
-
And many a mother pale with fearsI
Did kiss her infant sonJ
Said Who will shield thy helpless yearsI
Who dry thy widowed mother's tearsK
When thy brave father's goneL
-
GOD with firm voice the prelate criedC
God will the orphan blessM
Sustain the widow's heart and guideC
Through the hard world obscure and wildC
The poor and fatherlessN
-
Then might you see a shade o'ercastC
Brave Hoel's ruddy hueO
But soon the moment's thought is pastC
Hark hark 'tis the trumpet's stirring blastC
And he grasped his bow of yewO
-
Then might you see a moment's gloomP
Sit in brave Hoel's eyeQ
Make in the stranger's land my tombP
I follow thee be it my doomP
O CHRIST to live or dieQ
-
No more he thought though rich in feeR
Of any earthly lossD
But lighting on his bended kneeR
Said Father here I take from theeR
The sign of the Holy CrossD
-
I have a wife to me more dearS
Then is my own heart's bloodC
I have a child a starting tearT
Which soon he dried of love sincereS
On his stern eyelid stoodC
-
To them farewell O God aboveU
Thine is the fate of warH
But oh reward Gwenlhian's loveU
And may my son a comfort proveV
When I am distant farW
-
Farewell my harp away awayX
To the field of death I goY
Welcome the trumpet's blast the neighV
Of my bold and barbed steed of grayX
And the clang of the steel crossbowY
-
Gwenlhian sat in the hall at nightC
Counting the heavy hoursZ
She saw the moon with tranquil lightC
Shine on the circling mountain's heightC
And the dim castle towersZ
-
Deep stillness was on hill and glenA2
When she heard a bugle blowY
A trump from the watch tower answered thenA2
And the tramp of steeds and the voice of menA2
Were heard in the court belowY
-
The watch dog started at the noiseB2
Then crouched at his master's feetC
He knew his step he heard his voiceC2
But who can now like her rejoiceC2
Who flies her own lord to greetC
-
And soon her arms his neck enfoldC
But whence that altered mienD2
O say then is thy love grown coldC
Or hast thou been hurt by the robbers boldC
That won in the forest of DeanD2
-
Oh no he cried the God aboveV
Who all my soul can seeR
Knows my sincere my fervent loveV
If aught my stern resolve could moveV
It were one tear from theeR
-
But I have sworn in the Holy LandC
Need I the sequel speakE2
Too well she cried I understandC
Then grasped in agony his handC
And hid her face on his cheekE2
-
My loved Gwenlhian weep not soY
From the lid that tear I kissF2
Though to the wars far off I goY
Betide me weal betide me woeY
We yet may meet in blissF2
-
Fourteen suns their course had rolledC
When firmly thus he spakeG
Hear now my last request beholdC
This ring it is of purest goldC
Love keep it for my sakeG
-
When summers seven have robed each treeR
And clothed the vales with greenD2
If I come not back then thou art freeR
To wed or not and to think of meR
As I had never beenG2
-
Nay answer not what wouldst thou sayX
Come let my harp be broughtC
For the last time I fain would playX
Ere yet we part our favourite layX
And cheat severer thoughtC
-
The AirT
-
Oh cast every care to the windC
And dry best beloved the tearT
Secure that thou ever shalt findC
The friend of thy bosom sincereS
Still friendship shall live in the breast of the braveV
And we'll love the long day where the forest trees waveV
-
I have felt each emotion of blissF2
That affection the fondest can proveV
Have received on my lip the first kissF2
Of thy holy and innocent loveV
But perish each hope of delightC
Like the flashes of night on the seaR
If ever though far from thy sightC
My soul is forgetful of theeR
Still the memory shall live in the breast of the braveV
How we loved the long day where the forest trees waveV
-
Now bring my boy may God aboveV
Shower blessings on his headC
May he requite his mother's loveV
And to her age a comfort proveV
When I perhaps am deadC
-
The beams of morn on his helm did playX
And aloud the bugle blewO
Then he leaped on his harnessed steed of grayX
And sighed to the winds as he galloped f awayX
Adieu my heart's love adieuO
-
And now he has joined the warrior trainB
Of knights and barons boldC
That bound to Salem's holy plainB
Across the gently swelling mainB
Their course exulting holdC
-
With a cross of gold as on they passedC
The crimson streamers flewO
The shields hung glittering round the mastC
And on the waves a radiance castC
Whilst all the trumpets blewO
-
O'er the Severn surge in long arrayX
So the proud galleys wentC
Till soon as dissolved in ether grayX
The woods and the shores and the Holms steal awayX
And the long blue hills of GwentC

William Lisle Bowles



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