Rapunzel Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCDC E DF D CCCF G HIJ E DF D KKKF G LIJ E DF D MMMF G NIJI E DF D MMMF G OPQP E DF D RRRF A SJSJ TUTU AVAV DWDW DDDD JPJP XYXY ZFZF A2B2A2B2 C2D2C2D2 E2VFV F2G2F2G2 APAP H2RH2R I2 PF G H2FH2F J2FJ2F FSFS K2AL2A MPMP RXRX M2 FFF G N2ZO2Z E2H2E2H2 P2Q2P2Q2 DR2DR2 S2I2S2I2 I2 T2U2T2U2V2W2W2V2W2W2 W2JSSJS2S2JV2V2 W2W2NNW2W2 X2FX2FY2Y2RRQ2Q2Z2Z2 A3B3B3B3B3P Z2A3C3I2D3D3D3 I2 P SHSJ G E3V2E3V2 P PPPP F3IF3I WV2WV2 FD3FD3 PSPS G3H3G3H3 APAP FP G N2FN2 I3 P J3I3J3 PK3PK3 P G L3PL3 FS2FM3 AFAF PZPZ PKPK V2B3V2B3 N3 P JO3LO3 G XYXY P3 Q3Q3L FFL Q3Q3L R3S2L M3S2L Q3Q3L L PLPL S3 T3 WRLR P LF L PPPF T3 LIU3I E LF L LLLF T3 K2IAI E LF L I3I3I3F E FFF

THE PRINCE being in the wood near the tower in the eveningA
-
I could not even thinkB
What made me weep that dayC
When out of the council hallD
The courtiers pass'd awayC
-
THE WITCHE
-
Rapunzel RapunzelD
Let down your hairF
-
RAPUNZELD
-
Is it not true that every dayC
She climbeth up the same strange wayC
Her scarlet cloak spread broad and gayC
Over my golden hairF
-
THE PRINCEG
-
And left me there aloneH
To think on what they saidI
'Thou art a king's own sonJ
'Tis fit that thou should'st wed '-
-
THE WITCHE
-
Rapunzel RapunzelD
Let down your hairF
-
RAPUNZELD
-
When I undo the knotted massK
Fathoms below the shadows passK
Over my hair along the grassK
O my golden hairF
-
THE PRINCEG
-
I put my armour onL
Thinking on what they saidI
'Thou art a king's own sonJ
'Tis fit that thou should'st wed '-
-
THE WITCHE
-
Rapunzel RapunzelD
Let down your hairF
-
RAPUNZELD
-
See on the marble parapetM
I lean my brow strive to forgetM
That fathoms below my hair grows wetM
With the dew my golden hairF
-
THE PRINCEG
-
I rode throughout the townN
Men did not bow the headI
Though I was the king's own sonJ
He rides to dream they saidI
-
THE WITCHE
-
Rapunzel RapunzelD
Wind up your hairF
-
RAPUNZELD
-
See on the marble parapetM
The faint red stains with tears are wetM
The long years pass no help comes yetM
To free my golden hairF
-
THE PRINCEG
-
For leagues and leagues I rodeO
Till hot my armour grewP
Till underneath the leavesQ
I felt the evening dewP
-
THE WITCHE
-
Rapunzel RapunzelD
Weep through your hairF
-
RAPUNZELD
-
And yet but I am growing oldR
For want of love my heart is coldR
Years pass the while I loose and foldR
The fathoms of my hairF
-
-
THE PRINCE in the morningA
-
I have heard tales of men who in the nightS
Saw paths of stars let down to earth from heavenJ
Who followed them until they reach'd the lightS
Wherein they dwell whose sins are all forgivenJ
-
But who went backward when they saw the gateT
Of diamond nor dared to enter inU
All their life long they were content to waitT
Purging them patiently of every sinU
-
I must have had a dream of some such thingA
And now am just awaking from that dreamV
For even in grey dawn those strange words ringA
Through heart and brain and still I see that gleamV
-
For in my dream at sunset time I layD
Beneath these beeches mail and helmet offW
Right full of joy that I had come awayD
From court for I was patient of the scoffW
-
That met me always there from day to dayD
From any knave or coward of them allD
I was content to live that wretched wayD
For truly till I left the council hallD
-
And rode forth arm'd beneath the burning sunJ
My gleams of happiness were faint and fewP
But then I saw my real life had begunJ
And that I should be strong quite well I knewP
-
For I was riding out to look for loveX
Therefore the birds within the thickets sungY
Even in hot noontide as I pass'd aboveX
The elms o'ersway'd with longing towards me hungY
-
Now some few fathoms from the place where IZ
Lay in the beech wood was a tower fairF
The marble corners faint against the skyZ
And dreamily I wonder'd what lived thereF
-
Because it seem'd a dwelling for a queenA2
No belfry for the swinging of great bellsB2
No bolt or stone had ever crush'd the greenA2
Shafts amber and rose walls no soot that tellsB2
-
Of the Norse torches burning up the roofsC2
On the flower carven marble could I seeD2
But rather on all sides I saw the proofsC2
Of a great loneliness that sicken'd meD2
-
Making me feel a doubt that was not fearE2
Whether my whole life long had been a dreamV
And I should wake up soon in some place whereF
The piled up arms of the fighting angels gleamV
-
Not born as yet but going to be bornF2
No naked baby as I was at firstG2
But an armed knight whom fire hate and scornF2
Could turn from nothing my heart almost burstG2
-
Beneath the beeches as I lay a dreamingA
I tried so hard to read this riddle throughP
To catch some golden cord that I saw gleamingA
Like gossamer against the autumn blueP
-
But while I ponder'd these things from the woodH2
There came a black hair'd woman tall and boldR
Who strode straight up to where the tower stoodH2
And cried out shrilly words whereon beholdR
-
THE WITCH from the towerI2
-
Rapunzel RapunzelP
Let down your hairF
-
THE PRINCEG
-
Ah Christ it was no dream then but there stoodH2
She comes again a maiden passing fairF
Against the roof with face turn'd to the woodH2
Bearing within her arms waves of her yellow hairF
-
I read my riddle when I saw her standJ2
Poor love her face quite pale against her hairF
Praying to all the leagues of empty landJ2
To save her from the woe she suffer'd thereF
-
To think they trod upon her golden hairF
In the witches' sabbaths it was a delightS
For these foul things while she with thin feet bareF
Stood on the roof upon the winter nightS
-
To plait her dear hair into many plaitsK2
And then while God's eye look'd upon the thingA
In the very likenesses of Devil's batsL2
Upon the ends of her long hair to swingA
-
And now she stood above the parapetM
And spreading out her arms let her hair flowP
Beneath that veil her smooth white forehead setM
Upon the marble more I do not knowP
-
Because before my eyes a film of goldR
Floated as now it floats O unknown loveX
Would that I could thy yellow stair beholdR
If still thou standest the lead roof aboveX
-
THE WITCH as she passesM2
-
Is there any who will dareF
To climb up the yellow stairF
Glorious Rapunzel's golden hairF
-
THE PRINCEG
-
If it would please God make you sing againN2
I think that I might very sweetly dieZ
My soul somehow reach heaven in joyous painO2
My heavy body on the beech nuts lieZ
-
Now I remember what a most strange yearE2
Most strange and awful in the beechen woodH2
I have pass'd now I still have a faint fearE2
It is a kind of dream not understoodH2
-
I have seen no one in this wood exceptP2
The witch and her have heard no human tonesQ2
But when the witches' revelry has creptP2
Between the very jointing of my bonesQ2
-
Ah I know now I could not go awayD
But needs must stop to hear her sing that songR2
She always sings at dawning of the dayD
I am not happy here for I am strongR2
-
And every morning do I whet my swordS2
Yet Rapunzel still weeps within the towerI2
And still God ties me down to the green swardS2
Because I cannot see the gold stair floating lowerI2
-
RAPUNZEL sings from the towerI2
-
My mother taught me prayersT2
To say when I had needU2
I have so many caresT2
That I can take no heedU2
Of many words in themV2
But I remember thisW2
Christ bring me to thy blissW2
Mary maid withouten wemV2
Keep me I am lone I wisW2
Yet besides I have made thisW2
By myself Give me a kissW2
Dear God dwelling up in heavenJ
Also Send me a true knightS
Lord Christ with a steel sword brightS
Broad and trenchant yea and sevenJ
Spans from hilt to point O LordS2
And let the handle of his swordS2
Be gold on silver Lord in heavenJ
Such a sword as I see gleamV2
Sometimes when they let me dreamV2
-
Yea besides I have made thisW2
Lord give Mary a dear kissW2
And let gold Michael who looked downN
When I was there on Rouen townN
From the spire bring me that kissW2
On a lily Lord do thisW2
-
These prayers on the dreadful nightsX2
When the witches plait my hairF
And the fearfullest of sightsX2
On the earth and in the airF
Will not let me close my eyesY2
I murmur often mix'd with sighsY2
That my weak heart will not holdR
At some things that I beholdR
Nay not sighs but quiet groansQ2
That swell out the little bonesQ2
Of my bosom till a tranceZ2
God sends in middle of that danceZ2
And I behold the countenanceA3
Of Michael and can feel no moreB3
The bitter east wind biting soreB3
My naked feet can see no moreB3
The crayfish on the leaden floorB3
That mock with feeler and grim clawP
-
Yea often in that happy tranceZ2
Beside the blessed countenanceA3
Of golden Michael on the spireC3
Glowing all crimson in the fireI2
Of sunset I behold a faceD3
Which sometime if God give me graceD3
May kiss me in this very placeD3
-
-
Evening in the towerI2
-
RAPUNZELP
-
It grows half way between the dark and lightS
Love we have been six hours here aloneH
I fear that she will come before the nightS
And if she finds us thus we are undoneJ
-
THE PRINCEG
-
Nay draw a little nearer that your breathE3
May touch my lips let my cheek feel your armV2
Now tell me did you ever see a deathE3
Or ever see a man take mortal harmV2
-
RAPUNZELP
-
Once came two knights and fought with swords belowP
And while they fought I scarce could look at allP
My head swam so after a moaning lowP
Drew my eyes down I saw against the wallP
-
One knight lean dead bleeding from head and breastF3
Yet seem'd it like a line of poppies redI
In the golden twilight as he took his restF3
In the dusky time he scarcely seemed deadI
-
But the other on his face six paces offW
Lay moaning and the old familiar nameV2
He mutter'd through the grass seem'd like a scoffW
Of some lost soul remembering his past fameV2
-
His helm all dinted lay beside him thereF
The visor bars were twisted towards the faceD3
The crest which was a lady very fairF
Wrought wonderfully was shifted from its placeD3
-
The shower'd mail rings on the speedwell layP
Perhaps my eyes were dazzled with the lightS
That blazed in the west yet surely on that dayP
Some crimson thing had changed the grass from brightS
-
Pure green I love so But the knight who diedG3
Lay there for days after the other wentH3
Until one day I heard a voice that criedG3
Fair knight I see Sir Robert we were sentH3
-
To carry dead or living to the kingA
So the knights came and bore him straight awayP
On their lance truncheons such a batter'd thingA
His mother had not known him on that dayP
-
But for his helm crest a gold lady fairF
Wrought wonderfullyP
-
THE PRINCEG
-
Ah they were brothers thenN2
And often rode together doubtless whereF
The swords were thickest and were loyal menN2
-
Until they fell in these same evil dreamsI3
-
RAPUNZELP
-
Yea love but shall we not depart from henceJ3
The white moon groweth golden fast and gleamsI3
Between the aspens stems I fear and yet a senseJ3
-
Of fluttering victory comes over meP
That will not let me fear aright my heartK3
Feel how it beats love strives to get to theeP
I breathe so fast that my lips needs must partK3
-
Your breath swims round my mouth but let us goP
-
THE PRINCEG
-
I Sebald also pluck from off the staffL3
The crimson banner let it lie belowP
Above it in the wind let grasses laughL3
-
Now let us go love down the winding stairF
With fingers intertwined ay feel my swordS2
I wrought it long ago with golden hairF
Flowing about the hilts because a wordM3
-
Sung by a minstrel old had set me dreamingA
Of a sweet bow'd down face with yellow hairF
Betwixt green leaves I used to see it gleamingA
A half smile on the lips though lines of careF
-
Had sunk the cheeks and made the great eyes hollowP
What other work in all the world had IZ
But through all turns of fate that face to followP
But wars and business kept me there to dieZ
-
O child I should have slain my brother tooP
My brother Love lain moaning in the grassK
Had I not ridden out to look for youP
When I had watch'd the gilded courtiers passK
-
From the golden hall But it is strange your nameV2
Is not the same the minstrel sung of yoreB3
You call'd it Rapunzel 'tis not the nameV2
See love the stems shine through the open doorB3
-
-
Morning in the woodsN3
-
RAPUNZELP
-
O love me and my unknown name you have well wonJ
The witch's name was Rapunzel eh not so sweetO3
No but is this real grass love that I tread uponL
What call they these blue flowers that lean across my feetO3
-
THE PRINCEG
-
Dip down your dear face in the dewy grass O loveX
And ever let the sweet slim harebells tenderly hungY
Kiss both your parted lips and I will hang aboveX
And try to sing that song the dreamy harper sungY
-
He singsP3
-
'Twixt the sunlight and the shadeQ3
Float up memories of my maidQ3
God remember GuendolenL
-
Gold or gems she did not wearF
But her yellow rippled hairF
Like a veil hid GuendolenL
-
'Twixt the sunlight and the shadeQ3
My rough hands so strangely madeQ3
Folded Golden GuendolenL
-
Hands used to grip the sword hilt hardR3
Framed her face while on the swardS2
Tears fell down from GuendolenL
-
Guendolen now speaks no wordM3
Hands fold round about the swordS2
Now no more of GuendolenL
-
Only 'twixt the light and shadeQ3
Floating memories of my maidQ3
Make me pray for GuendolenL
-
GUENDOLENL
-
I kiss thee new found name but I will never goP
Your hands need never grip the hammer'd sword againL
But all my golden hair shall ever round you flowP
Between the light and shade from Golden GuendolenL
-
-
Afterwards in the PalaceS3
-
KING SEBALDT3
-
I took my armour offW
Put on king's robes of goldR
Over the kirtle greenL
The gold fell fold on foldR
-
THE WITCH out of hellP
-
Guendolen GuendolenL
One lock of hairF
-
GUENDOLENL
-
I am so glad for every dayP
He kisses me much the same wayP
As in the tower under the swayP
Of all my golden hairF
-
KING SEBALDT3
-
We rode throughout the townL
A gold crown on my headI
Through all the gold hung streetsU3
Praise God the people saidI
-
THE WITCHE
-
Gwendolen GuendolenL
Lend me your hairF
-
GUENDOLENL
-
Verily I seem like oneL
Who when day is almost doneL
Through a thick wood meets the sunL
That blazes in her hairF
-
KING SEBALDT3
-
Yea at the palace gatesK2
Praise God the great knights saidI
For Sebald the high kingA
And the lady's golden headI
-
THE WITCHE
-
Woe is me GuendolenL
Sweeps back her hairF
-
GUENDOLENL
-
Nothing wretched now no screamsI3
I was unhappy once in dreamsI3
And even now a harsh voice seemsI3
To hang about my hairF
-
THE WITCHE
-
WOE THAT ANY MAN COULD DAREF
TO CLIMB UP THE YELLOW STAIRF
GLORIOUS GUENDOLEN'S GOLDEN HAIRF

William Morris



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