The Romance Of The Water Lily Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCCAB BDEEBD CFGGCF BHIIBH JKLLJK MNOOMP IBQQKB QRSSQR QTCCQT QKUVQK QFIIQF WXYYWX ZFKKZF A2QB2B2A2Q KBC2C2KB MQD2D2MQ E2KF2F2E2K EKG2G2EK QBH2H2QB VI2I2I2UI2 J2FK2K2J2F BRK2K2BR KFL2L2KF K2FK2K2K2F QRM2M2QR QFFFQF N2KFFN2K O2KK2K2O2K CFP2P2CF BKK2K2BK K2QK2K2K2Q K2KK2K2K2K QK2K2K2QK2 QFQQQF FQ2K2K2FQ2 N2BK2K2N2B R2KK2K2S2K Q2QK2K2Q2Q QK2K2K2QK2 BBK2K2BB QFBBQF BRFFBR FFT2T2FR QQBBQQ FBK2K2FB L2BBBL2B FK2QQFK2 BK2K2K2BK2 I2BK2K2I2B QFK2K2QF U2K2K2K2U2K2 K2FSSK2F FK2K2K2FK2 K2QQQK2BQ K2BN2N2K2B V2N2W2W2V2N2 QK2X2X2QK2 K2W2K2K2K2K2 K2QBBK2Q QQQQ K2N2K2B FK2FK2 K2K2K2K2 BBBB K2K2K2K2 N2K2N2K2 BY2BZ2

While Merlin paced the Cornish sands	A
Forth looking toward the rocks of Scilly	B
The pleased Enchanter was aware	C
Of a bright Ship that seemed to hang in air	C
Yet was she work of mortal hands	A
And took from men her name The Water Lily	B
	-
Soft was the wind that landward blew	B
And as the Moon o'er some dark hill ascendant	D
Grows from a little edge of light	E
To a full orb this Pinnace bright	E
Became as nearer to the coast she drew	B
More glorious with spread sail and streaming pendant	D
	-
Upon this winged Shape so fair	C
Sage Merlin gazed with admiration	F
Her lineaments thought he surpass	G
Aught that was ever shown in magic glass	G
Was ever built with patient care	C
Or at a touch produced by happiest transformation	F
	-
Now though a Mechanist whose skill	B
Shames the degenerate grasp of modern science	H
Grave Merlin and belike the more	I
For practising occult and perilous lore	I
Was subject to a freakish will	B
That sapped good thoughts or scared them with defiance	H
	-
Provoked to envious spleen he cast	J
An altered look upon the advancing Stranger	K
Whom he had hailed with joy and cried	L
My Art shall help to tame her pride	L
Anon the breeze became a blast	J
And the waves rose and sky portended danger	K
	-
With thrilling word and potent sign	M
Traced on the beach his work the Sorcerer urges	N
The clouds in blacker clouds are lost	O
Like spiteful Fiends that vanish crossed	O
By Fiends of aspect more malign	M
And the winds roused the Deep with fiercer scourges	P
	-
But worthy of the name she bore	I
Was this Sea flower this buoyant Galley	B
Supreme in loveliness and grace	Q
Of motion whether in the embrace	Q
Of trusty anchorage or scudding o'er	K
The main flood roughened into hill and valley	B
	-
Behold how wantonly she laves	Q
Her sides the Wizard's craft confounding	R
Like something out of Ocean sprung	S
To be for ever fresh and young	S
Breasts the sea flashes and huge waves	Q
Top gallant high rebounding and rebounding	R
	-
But Ocean under magic heaves	Q
And cannot spare the Thing he cherished	T
Ah what avails that she was fair	C
Luminous blithe and debonair	C
The storm has stripped her of her leaves	Q
The Lily floats no longer She hath perished	T
	-
Grieve for her she deserves no less	Q
So like yet so unlike a living Creature	K
No heart had she no busy brain	U
Though loved she could not love again	V
Though pitied 'feel' her own distress	Q
Nor aught that troubles us the fools of Nature	K
	-
Yet is there cause for gushing tears	Q
So richly was this Galley laden	F
A fairer than herself she bore	I
And in her struggles cast ashore	I
A lovely One who nothing hears	Q
Of wind or wave a meek and guileless Maiden	F
	-
Into a cave had Merlin fled	W
From mischief caused by spells himself had muttered	X
And while repentant all too late	Y
In moody posture there he sate	Y
He heard a voice and saw with half raised head	W
A Visitant by whom these words were uttered	X
	-
On Christian service this frail Bark	Z
Sailed hear me Merlin under high protection	F
Though on her prow a sign of heathen power	K
Was carved a Goddess with a Lily flower	K
The old Egyptian's emblematic mark	Z
Of joy immortal and of pure affection	F
	-
Her course was for the British strand	A2
Her freight it was a Damsel peerless	Q
God reigns above and Spirits strong	B2
May gather to avenge this wrong	B2
Done to the Princess and her Land	A2
Which she in duty left sad but not cheerless	Q
	-
And to Caerleon's loftiest tower	K
Soon will the Knights of Arthur's Table	B
A cry of lamentation send	C2
And all will weep who there attend	C2
To grace that Stranger's bridal hour	K
For whom the sea was made unnavigable	B
	-
Shame should a Child of royal line	M
Die through the blindness of thy malice	Q
Thus to the Necromancer spake	D2
Nina the Lady of the Lake	D2
A gentle Sorceress and benign	M
Who ne'er embittered any good man's chalice	Q
	-
What boots continued she to mourn	E2
To expiate thy sin endeavour	K
From the bleak isle where she is laid	F2
Fetched by our art the Egyptian Maid	F2
May yet to Arthur's court be borne	E2
Cold as she is ere life be fled for ever	K
	-
My pearly Boat a shining Light	E
That brought me down that sunless river	K
Will bear me on from wave to wave	G2
And back with her to this sea cave	G2
Then Merlin for a rapid flight	E
Through air to thee my Charge will I deliver	K
	-
The very swiftest of thy cars	Q
Must when my part is done be ready	B
Meanwhile for further guidance look	H2
Into thy own prophetic book	H2
And if that fail consult the Stars	Q
To learn thy course farewell be prompt and steady	B
	-
This scarcely spoken she again	V
Was seated in her gleaming shallop	I2
That o'er the yet distempered Deep	I2
Pursued its way with bird like sweep	I2
Or like a steed without a rein	U
Urged o'er the wilderness in sportive gallop	I2
	-
Soon did the gentle Nina reach	J2
That Isle without a house or haven	F
Landing she found not what she sought	K2
Nor saw of wreck or ruin aught	K2
But a carved Lotus cast upon the beach	J2
By the fierce waves a flower in marble graven	F
	-
Sad relique but how fair the while	B
For gently each from each retreating	R
With backward curve the leaves revealed	K2
The bosom half and half concealed	K2
Of a Divinity that seemed to smile	B
On Nina as she passed with hopeful greeting	R
	-
No quest was hers of vague desire	K
Of tortured hope and purpose shaken	F
Following the margin of a bay	L2
She spied the lonely Castaway	L2
Unmarred unstripped of her attire	K
But with closed eyes of breath and bloom forsaken	F
	-
Then Nina stooping down embraced	K2
With tenderness and mild emotion	F
The Damsel in that trance embound	K2
And while she raised her from the ground	K2
And in the pearly shallop placed	K2
Sleep fell upon the air and stilled the ocean	F
	-
The turmoil hushed celestial springs	Q
Of music opened and there came a blending	R
Of fragrance underived from earth	M2
With gleams that owed not to the sun their birth	M2
And that soft rustling of invisible wings	Q
Which Angels make on works of love descending	R
	-
And Nina heard a sweeter voice	Q
Than if the Goddess of the flower had spoken	F
Thou hast achieved fair Dame what none	F
Less pure in spirit could have done	F
Go in thy enterprise rejoice	Q
Air earth sea sky and heaven success betoken	F
	-
So cheered she left that Island bleak	N2
A bare rock of the Scilly cluster	K
And as they traversed the smooth brine	F
The self illumined Brigantine	F
Shed on the Slumberer's cold wan cheek	N2
And pallid brow a melancholy lustre	K
	-
Fleet was their course and when they came	O2
To the dim cavern whence the river	K
Issued into the salt sea flood	K2
Merlin as fixed in thought he stood	K2
Was thus accosted by the Dame	O2
Behold to thee my Charge I now deliver	K
	-
But where attends thy chariot where	C
Quoth Merlin Even as I was bidden	F
So have I done as trusty as thy barge	P2
My vehicle shall prove O precious Charge	P2
If this be sleep how soft if death how fair	C
Much have my books disclosed but the end is hidden	F
	-
He spake and gliding into view	B
Forth from the grotto's dimmest chamber	K
Came two mute Swans whose plumes of dusky white	K2
Changed as the pair approached the light	K2
Drawing an ebon car their hue	B
Like clouds of sunset into lucid amber	K
	-
Once more did gentle Nina lift	K2
The Princess passive to all changes	Q
The car received her then up went	K2
Into the ethereal element	K2
The Birds with progress smooth and swift	K2
As thought when through bright regions memory ranges	Q
	-
Sage Merlin at the Slumberer's side	K2
Instructs the Swans their way to measure	K
And soon Caerleon's towers appeared	K2
And notes of minstrelsy were heard	K2
From rich pavilions spreading wide	K2
For some high day of long expected pleasure	K
	-
Awe stricken stood both Knights and Dames	Q
Ere on firm ground the car alighted	K2
Eftsoons astonishment was past	K2
For in that face they saw the last	K2
Last lingering look of clay that tames	Q
All pride by which all happiness is blighted	K2
	-
Said Merlin Mighty King fair Lords	Q
Away with feast and tilt and tourney	F
Ye saw throughout this royal House	Q
Ye heard a rocking marvelous	Q
Of turrets and a clash of swords	Q
Self shaken as I closed my airy journey	F
	-
Lo by a destiny well known	F
To mortals joy is turned to sorrow	Q2
This is the wished for Bride the Maid	K2
Of Egypt from a rock conveyed	K2
Where she by shipwreck had been thrown	F
Ill sight but grief may vanish ere the morrow	Q2
	-
Though vast thy power thy words are weak	N2
Exclaimed the King a mockery hateful	B
Dutiful Child her lot how hard	K2
Is this her piety's reward	K2
Those watery locks that bloodless cheek	N2
O winds without remorse O shore ungrateful	B
	-
Rich robes are fretted by the moth	R2
Towers temples fall by stroke of thunder	K
Will that or deeper thoughts abate	K2
A Father's sorrow for her fate	K2
He will repent him of his troth	S2
His brain will burn his stout heart split asunder	K
	-
Alas and I have caused this woe	Q2
For when my prowess from invading Neighbours	Q
Had freed his Realm he plighted word	K2
That he would turn to Christ our Lord	K2
And his dear Daughter on a Knight bestow	Q2
Whom I should choose for love and matchless labours	Q
	-
Her birth was heathen but a fence	Q
Of holy Angels round her hovered	K2
A Lady added to my court	K2
So fair of such divine report	K2
And worship seemed a recompense	Q
For fifty kingdoms by my sword recovered	K2
	-
Ask not for whom O Champions true	B
She was reserved by me her life's betrayer	B
She who was meant to be a bride	K2
Is now a corpse then put aside	K2
Vain thoughts and speed ye with observance due	B
Of Christian rites in Christian ground to lay her	B
	-
The tomb said Merlin may not close	Q
Upon her yet earth hide her beauty	F
Not froward to thy sovereign will	B
Esteem me Liege if I whose skill	B
Wafted her hither interpose	Q
To check this pious haste of erring duty	F
	-
My books command me to lay bare	B
The secret thou art bent on keeping	R
Here must a high attest be given	F
'What' Bridegroom was for her ordained by Heaven	F
And in my glass significants there are	B
Of things that may to gladness turn this weeping	R
	-
For this approaching One by One	F
Thy Knights must touch the cold hand of the Virgin	F
So for the favoured One the Flower may bloom	T2
Once more but if unchangeable her doom	T2
If life departed be for ever gone	F
Some blest assurance from this cloud emerging	R
	-
May teach him to bewail his loss	Q
Not with a grief that like a vapour rises	Q
And melts but grief devout that shall endure	B
And a perpetual growth secure	B
Of purposes which no false thought shall cross	Q
A harvest of high hopes and noble enterprises	Q
	-
So be it said the King anon	F
Here where the Princess lies begin the trial	B
Knights each in order as ye stand	K2
Step forth To touch the pallid hand	K2
Sir Agravaine advanced no sign he won	F
From Heaven or earth Sir Kaye had like denial	B
	-
Abashed Sir Dinas turned away	L2
Even for Sir Percival was no disclosure	B
Though he devoutest of all Champions ere	B
He reached that ebon car the bier	B
Whereon diffused like snow the Damsel lay	L2
Full thrice had crossed himself in meek composure	B
	-
Imagine but ye Saints who can	F
How in still air the balance trembled	K2
The wishes peradventure the despites	Q
That overcame some not ungenerous Knights	Q
And all the thoughts that lengthened out a span	F
Of time to Lords and Ladies thus assembled	K2
	-
What patient confidence was here	B
And there how many bosoms panted	K2
While drawing toward the car Sir Gawaine mailed	K2
For tournament his beaver vailed	K2
And softly touched but to his princely cheer	B
And high expectancy no sign was granted	K2
	-
Next disencumbered of his harp	I2
Sir Tristram dear to thousands as a brother	B
Came to the proof nor grieved that there ensued	K2
No change the fair Izonda he had wooed	K2
With love too true a love with pangs too sharp	I2
From hope too distant not to dread another	B
	-
Not so Sir Lancelot from Heaven's grace	Q
A sign he craved tired slave of vain contrition	F
The royal Guinever looked passing glad	K2
When his touch failed Next came Sir Galahad	K2
He paused and stood entranced by that still face	Q
Whose features he had seen in noontide vision	F
	-
For late as near a murmuring stream	U2
He rested 'mid an arbour green and shady	K2
Nina the good Enchantress shed	K2
A light around his mossy bed	K2
And at her call a waking dream	U2
Prefigured to his sense the Egyptian Lady	K2
	-
Now while his bright haired front he bowed	K2
And stood far kenned by mantle furred with ermine	F
As o'er the insensate Body hung	S
The enrapt the beautiful the young	S
Belief sank deep into the crowd	K2
That he the solemn issue would determine	F
	-
Nor deem it strange the Youth had worn	F
That very mantle on a day of glory	K2
The day when he achieved that matchless feat	K2
The marvel of the PERILOUS SEAT	K2
Which whosoe'er approached of strength was shorn	F
Though King or Knight the most renowned in story	K2
	-
He touched with hesitating hand	K2
And lo those Birds far famed through Love's dominions	Q
The Swans in triumph clap their wings	Q
And their necks play involved in rings	Q
Like sinless snakes in Eden's happy land	K2
Mine is she cried the Knight again they clapped their	B
pinions	Q
	-
Mine was she mine she is though dead	K2
And to her name my soul shall cleave in sorrow	B
Whereat a tender twilight streak	N2
Of colour dawned upon the Damsel's cheek	N2
And her lips quickening with uncertain red	K2
Seemed from each other a faint warmth to borrow	B
	-
Deep was the awe the rapture high	V2
Of love emboldened hope with dread entwining	N2
When to the mouth relenting Death	W2
Allowed a soft and flower like breath	W2
Precursor to a timid sigh	V2
To lifted eyelids and a doubtful shining	N2
	-
In silence did King Arthur gaze	Q
Upon the signs that pass away or tarry	K2
In silence watched the gentle strife	X2
Of Nature leading back to life	X2
Then eased his soul at length by praise	Q
Of God and Heaven's pure Queen the blissful Mary	K2
	-
Then said he Take her to thy heart	K2
Sir Galahad a treasure that God giveth	W2
Bound by indissoluble ties to thee	K2
Through mortal change and immortality	K2
Be happy and unenvied thou who art	K2
A goodly Knight that hath no peer that liveth	K2
	-
Not long the Nuptials were delayed	K2
And sage tradition still rehearses	Q
The pomp the glory of that hour	B
When toward the altar from her bower	B
King Arthur led the Egyptian Maid	K2
And Angels caroled these far echoed verses	Q
	-
	-
Who shrinks not from alliance	Q
Of evil with good Powers	Q
To God proclaims defiance	Q
And mocks whom he adores	Q
	-
A Ship to Christ devoted	K2
From the Land of Nile did go	N2
Alas the bright Ship floated	K2
An Idol at her prow	B
	-
By magic domination	F
The Heaven permitted vent	K2
Of purblind mortal passion	F
Was wrought her punishment	K2
	-
The Flower the Form within it	K2
What served they in her need	K2
Her port she could not win it	K2
Nor from mishap be freed	K2
	-
The tempest overcame her	B
And she was seen no more	B
But gently gently blame her	B
She cast a Pearl ashore	B
	-
The Maid to Jesu hearkened	K2
And kept to him her faith	K2
Till sense in death was darkened	K2
Or sleep akin to death	K2
	-
But Angels round her pillow	N2
Kept watch a viewless band	K2
And billow favouring billow	N2
She reached the destined strand	K2
	-
Blest Pair whate'er befall you	B
Your faith in Him approve	Y2
Who from frail earth can call you	B
To bowers of endless love	Z2

William Wordsworth

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