The Harp Of Hoel 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 H2 BCBBC I2CI2I2C J2CJ2J2C CCCCC STTK2T L2BM2L2B CN2CCN2 O2VO2O2V P2IP2P2I BCBBC CSRRK2 CVCCV

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 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
-
-
PART IIH2
-
High on the hill with moss o'ergrownB
A hermit chapel stoodC
It spoke the tale of seasons goneB
And half revealed its ivied stoneB
Amid the beechen woodC
-
Here often when the mountain treesI2
A leafy murmur madeC
Now still now swaying to the breezeI2
Sounds that the musing fancy pleaseI2
The widowed mourner strayedC
-
And many a morn she climbed the steepJ2
From whence she might beholdC
Where 'neath the clouds in shining sweepJ2
And mingling with the mighty deepJ2
The sea broad Severn rolledC
-
Her little boy beside her playedC
With sea shells in his handC
And sometimes 'mid the bents delayedC
And sometimes running onward saidC
Oh where is Holy LandC
-
My child she cried my prattler dearS
And kissed his light brown hairT
Her eyelid glistened with a tearT
And none but God above could hearK2
That hour her secret prayerT
-
As thus she nursed her secret woesL2
Oft to the wind and rainB
She listened at sad autumn's closeM2
Whilst many a thronging shadow roseL2
Dark glancing o'er her brainB
-
Now lonely to the cloudy heightC
Of the steep hill she straysN2
Below the raven wings his flightC
And often on the screaming kiteC
She sees the wild deer gazeN2
-
The clouds were gathered on its browO2
The warring winds were highV
She heard a hollow voice and nowO2
She lifts to heaven a secret vowO2
Whilst the king of the storm rides byV
-
Seated on a craggy rockP2
What aged man appearsI
There is no hind no straggling flockP2
Comes the strange shade my thoughts to mockP2
And shake my soul with fearsI
-
Fast drive the hurrying clouds of mornB
A pale man stands confessedC
With look majestic though forlornB
A mirror in his hand and hornB
Of ivory on his breastC
-
Daughter of grief he gently saidC
And beckoned her come nearS
Now say what would you give to meR
If you brave Hoel's form might seeR
Or the sound of his bugle hearK2
-
Hoel my love where'er thou artC
All England I would giveV
If never never more to partC
I now could hold thee to my heartC
For whom alone I livV

William Lisle Bowles



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