Book Ninth [residence In France] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJKGGLMHNOPQ IG RSTUVGGWGXG GYZA2HGB2C2 D2GE2F2DG2H2H2I2H2J2 K2L2M2GH2GH2N2D2O2P2 GH2H2 GA2Q2H2R2GGH2DH2A2D2 S2H2 GT2H2U2GGI2V2H2KH2GG GGGHGM2W2X2I2IH2DGY2 Q2H2Z2AKGUA3H2GH2GB3 KQO2H2 H2C3H2O2H2GD3GA2A3H2 GI2GH2O2H2GH2HQGIH2H 2GW2H2I2GE2E3S2GF3H2 I2UU2H2H2Y2UH2G3GA3H 2G SGIH2HG C3GH2GM

EVEN as a river partly it might seemA
Yielding to old remembrances and swayedB
In part by fear to shape a way directC
That would engulph him soon in the ravenous seaD
Turns and will measure back his course far backE
Seeking the very regions which he crossedF
In his first outset so have we my FriendG
Turned and returned with intricate delayH
Or as a traveller who has gained the browI
Of some aerial Down while there he haltsJ
For breathing time is tempted to reviewK
The region left behind him and if aughtG
Deserving notice have escaped regardG
Or been regarded with too careless eyeL
Strives from that height with one and yet one moreM
Last look to make the best amends he mayH
So have we lingered Now we start afreshN
With courage and new hope risen on our toilO
Fair greetings to this shapeless eagernessP
Whene'er it comes needful in work so longQ
Thrice needful to the argument which nowI
Awaits us Oh how much unlike the pastG
-
Free as a colt at pasture on the hillR
I ranged at large through London's wide domainS
Month after month Obscurely did I liveT
Not seeking frequent intercourse with menU
By literature or elegance or rankV
Distinguished Scarcely was a year thus spentG
Ere I forsook the crowded solitudeG
With less regret for its luxurious pompW
And all the nicely guarded shows of artG
Than for the humble book stalls in the streetsX
Exposed to eye and hand where'er I turnedG
-
France lured me forth the realm that I had crossedG
So lately journeying toward the snow clad AlpsY
But now relinquishing the scrip and staffZ
And all enjoyment which the summer sunA2
Sheds round the steps of those who meet the dayH
With motion constant as his own I wentG
Prepared to sojourn in a pleasant townB2
Washed by the current of the stately LoireC2
-
Through Paris lay my readiest course and thereD2
Sojourning a few days I visitedG
In haste each spot of old or recent fameE2
The latter chiefly from the field of MarsF2
Down to the suburbs of St AntonyD
And from Mont Martre southward to the DomeG2
Of Genevieve In both her clamorous HallsH2
The National Synod and the JacobinsH2
I saw the Revolutionary PowerI2
Toss like a ship at anchor rocked by stormsH2
The Arcades I traversed in the Palace hugeJ2
Of Orleans coasted round and round the lineK2
Of Tavern Brothel Gaming house and ShopL2
Great rendezvous of worst and best the walkM2
Of all who had a purpose or had notG
I stared and listened with a stranger's earsH2
To Hawkers and Haranguers hubbub wildG
And hissing Factionists with ardent eyesH2
In knots or pairs or single Not a lookN2
Hope takes or Doubt or Fear is forced to wearD2
But seemed there present and I scanned them allO2
Watched every gesture uncontrollableP2
Of anger and vexation and despiteG
All side by side and struggling face to faceH2
With gaiety and dissolute idlenessH2
-
Where silent zephyrs sported with the dustG
Of the Bastille I sate in the open sunA2
And from the rubbish gathered up a stoneQ2
And pocketed the relic in the guiseH2
Of an enthusiast yet in honest truthR2
I looked for something that I could not findG
Affecting more emotion than I feltG
For 'tis most certain that these various sightsH2
However potent their first shock with meD
Appeared to recompense the traveller's painsH2
Less than the painted Magdalene of Le BrunA2
A beauty exquisitely wrought with hairD2
Dishevelled gleaming eyes and rueful cheekS2
Pale and bedropped with overflowing tearsH2
-
But hence to my more permanent abodeG
I hasten there by novelties in speechT2
Domestic manners customs gestures looksH2
And all the attire of ordinary lifeU2
Attention was engrossed and thus amusedG
I stood 'mid those concussions unconcernedG
Tranquil almost and careless as a flowerI2
Glassed in a green house or a parlour shrubV2
That spreads its leaves in unmolested peaceH2
While every bush and tree the country throughK
Is shaking to the roots indifference thisH2
Which may seem strange but I was unpreparedG
With needful knowledge had abruptly passedG
Into a theatre whose stage was filledG
And busy with an action far advancedG
Like others I had skimmed and sometimes readG
With care the master pamphlets of the dayH
Nor wanted such half insight as grew wildG
Upon that meagre soil helped out by talkM2
And public news but having never seenW2
A chronicle that might suffice to showX2
Whence the main organs of the public powerI2
Had sprung their transmigrations when and howI
Accomplished giving thus unto eventsH2
A form and body all things were to meD
Loose and disjointed and the affections leftG
Without a vital interest At that timeY2
Moreover the first storm was overblownQ2
And the strong hand of outward violenceH2
Locked up in quiet For myself I fearZ2
Now in connection with so great a themeA
To speak as I must be compelled to doK
Of one so unimportant night by nightG
Did I frequent the formal haunts of menU
Whom in the city privilege of birthA3
Sequestered from the rest societiesH2
Polished in arts and in punctilio versedG
Whence and from deeper causes all discourseH2
Of good and evil of the time was shunnedG
With scrupulous care but these restrictions soonB3
Proved tedious and I gradually withdrewK
Into a noisier world and thus ere longQ
Became a patriot and my heart was allO2
Given to the people and my love was theirsH2
-
A band of military OfficersH2
Then stationed in the city were the chiefC3
Of my associates some of these wore swordsH2
That had been seasoned in the wars and allO2
Were men well born the chivalry of FranceH2
In age and temper differing they had yetG
One spirit ruling in each heart alikeD3
Save only one hereafter to be namedG
Were bent upon undoing what was doneA2
This was their rest and only hope therewithA3
No fear had they of bad becoming worseH2
For worst to them was come nor would have stirredG
Or deemed it worth a moment's thought to stirI2
In anything save only as the actG
Looked thitherward One reckoning by yearsH2
Was in the prime of manhood and erewhileO2
He had sate lord in many tender heartsH2
Though heedless of such honours now and changedG
His temper was quite mastered by the timesH2
And they had blighted him had eaten awayH
The beauty of his person doing wrongQ
Alike to body and to mind his portG
Which once had been erect and open nowI
Was stooping and contracted and a faceH2
Endowed by Nature with her fairest giftsH2
Of symmetry and light and bloom expressedG
As much as any that was ever seenW2
A ravage out of season made by thoughtsH2
Unhealthy and vexatious With the hourI2
That from the press of Paris duly broughtG
Its freight of public news the fever cameE2
A punctual visitant to shake this manE3
Disarmed his voice and fanned his yellow cheekS2
Into a thousand colours while he readG
Or mused his sword was haunted by his touchF3
Continually like an uneasy placeH2
In his own body 'Twas in truth an hourI2
Of universal ferment mildest menU
Were agitated and commotions strifeU2
Of passion and opinion filled the wallsH2
Of peaceful houses with unquiet soundsH2
The soil of common life was at that timeY2
Too hot to tread upon Oft said I thenU
And not then only 'What a mockery thisH2
Of history the past and that to comeG3
Now do I feel how all men are deceivedG
Reading of nations and their works in faithA3
Faith given to vanity and emptinessH2
Oh laughter for the page that would reflectG
To future times the face of what now is '-
The land all swarmed with passion like a plainS
Devoured by locusts Carra Gorsas addG
A hundred other names forgotten nowI
Nor to be heard of more yet they were powersH2
Like earthquakes shocks repeated day by dayH
And felt through every nook of town and fieldG
-
Such was the state of things Meanwhile the chiefC3
Of my associates stood prepared for flightG
To augment the band of emigrants in armsH2
Upon the borders of the Rhine and leaguedG
With foreign foes mustered forM

William Wordsworth



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Book Ninth [residence In France] poem by William Wordsworth


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 13 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets