The Somnambulist Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDEDDE BFGFHIHHI JBKBBLBBL BLMLNONNO PQAQRSRRS TUVUWXYYX ZA2B2C2ND2B2ND2 E2F2G2F2H2I2H2H2I2 J2AK2AHQL2HQ M2N2BN2C2O2P2C2O2 Q2N2R2N2S2AS2S2A S2S2T2S2LB2LLB2 S2LALBVBBV S2H2U2H2V2LV2V2L SAS2AIS2IIS2 S2NS2NH2SH2H2S VS2IS2S2LS2S2L CGS2GBABBA

List ye who pass by Lyulph's TowerA
At eve how softly thenB
Doth Aira force that torrent hoarseC
Speak from the woody glenB
Fit music for a solemn valeD
And holier seems the groundE
To him who catches on the galeD
The spirit of a mournful taleD
Embodied in the soundE
-
Not far from that fair site whereonB
The Pleasure house is rearedF
As story says in antique daysG
A stern browed house appearedF
Foil to a Jewel rich in lightH
There set and guarded wellI
Cage for a Bird of plumage brightH
Sweet voiced nor wishing for a flightH
Beyond her native dellI
-
To win this bright Bird from her cageJ
To make this Gem their ownB
Came Barons bold with store of goldK
And Knights of high renownB
But one She prized and only oneB
Sir Eglamore was heL
Full happy season when was knownB
Ye Dales and Hills to yon aloneB
Their mutual loyaltyL
-
Known chiefly Aira to thy glenB
Thy brook and bowers of hollyL
Where Passion caught what Nature taughtM
That all but love is follyL
Where Fact with Fancy stooped to playN
Doubt came not nor regretO
To trouble hours that winged their wayN
As if through an immortal dayN
Whose sun could never setO
-
But in old times Love dwelt not longP
Sequestered with reposeQ
Best throve the fire of chaste desireA
Fanned by the breath of foesQ
A conquering lance is beauty's testR
And proves the Lover trueS
So spake Sir Eglamore and pressedR
The drooping Emma to his breastR
And looked a blind adieuS
-
They parted Well with him it faredT
Through wide spread regions errantU
A knight of proof in love's behoofV
The thirst of fame his warrantU
And She her happiness can buildW
On woman's quiet hoursX
Though faint compared with spear and shieldY
The solace beads and masses yieldY
And needlework and flowersX
-
Yet blest was Emma when she heardZ
Her Champion's praise recountedA2
Though brain would swim and eyes grow dimB2
And high her blushes mountedC2
Or when a bold heroic layN
She warbled from full heartD2
Delightful blossoms for the 'May'B2
Of absence but they will not stayN
Born only to departD2
-
Hope wanes with her while lustre fillsE2
Whatever path he choosesF2
As if his orb that owns no curbG2
Received the light hers losesF2
He comes not back an ampler spaceH2
Requires for nobler deedsI2
He ranges on from place to placeH2
Till of his doings is no traceH2
But what her fancy breedsI2
-
His fame may spread but in the pastJ2
Her spirit finds its centreA
Clear sight She has of what he wasK2
And that would now content herA
Still is he my devoted KnightH
The tear in answer flowsQ
Month falls on month with heavier weightL2
Day sickens round her and the nightH
Is empty of reposeQ
-
In sleep She sometimes walked abroadM2
Deep sighs with quick words blendingN2
Like that pale Queen whose hands are seenB
With fancied spots contendingN2
But 'she' is innocent of bloodC2
The moon is not more pureO2
That shines aloft while through the woodP2
She thrids her way the sounding FloodC2
Her melancholy lureO2
-
While 'mid the fern brake sleeps the doeQ2
And owls alone are wakingN2
In white arrayed glides on the MaidR2
The downward pathway takingN2
That leads her to the torrent's sideS2
And to a holly bowerA
By whom on this still night descriedS2
By whom in that lone place espiedS2
By thee Sir EglamoreA
-
A wandering Ghost so thinks the KnightS2
His coming step has thwartedS2
Beneath the boughs that heard their vowsT2
Within whose shade they partedS2
Hush hush the busy Sleeper seeL
Perplexed her fingers seemB2
As if they from the holly treeL
Green twigs would pluck as rapidlyL
Flung from her to the streamB2
-
What means the Spectre Why intentS2
To violate the TreeL
Thought Eglamore by which I sworeA
Unfading constancyL
Here am I and to morrow's sunB
To her I left shall proveV
That bliss is ne'er so surely wonB
As when a circuit has been runB
Of valour truth and loveV
-
So from the spot whereon he stoodS2
He moved with stealthy paceH2
And drawing nigh with his living eyeU2
He recognised the faceH2
And whispers caught and speeches smallV2
Some to the green leaved treeL
Some muttered to the torrent fallV2
Roar on and bring him with thy callV2
I heard and so may HeL
-
Soul shattered was the Knight nor knewS
If Emma's Ghost it wereA
Or boding Shade or if the MaidS2
Her very self stood thereA
He touched what followed who shall tellI
The soft touch snapped the threadS2
Of slumber shrieking back she fellI
And the Stream whirled her down the dellI
Along its foaming bedS2
-
In plunged the Knight when on firm groundS2
The rescued Maiden layN
Her eyes grew bright with blissful lightS2
Confusion passed awayN
She heard ere to the throne of graceH2
Her faithful Spirit flewS
His voice beheld his speaking faceH2
And dying from his own embraceH2
She felt that he was trueS
-
So was he reconciled to lifeV
Brief words may speak the restS2
Within the dell he built a cellI
And there was Sorrow's guestS2
In hermits' weeds repose he foundS2
From vain temptations freeL
Beside the torrent dwelling boundS2
By one deep heart controlling soundS2
And awed to pietyL
-
Wild stream of Aira hold thy courseC
Nor fear memorial laysG
Where clouds that spread in solemn shadeS2
Are edged with golden raysG
Dear art thou to the light of heavenB
Though minister of sorrowA
Sweet is thy voice at pensive evenB
And thou in lovers' hearts forgivenB
Shalt take thy place with YarrowA

William Wordsworth



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