Edgar and Ellen

Matilda Betham (1776–1852) · 1808

common measure · ABAB · 176 lines · from Poems

"Arrest thy steps! On these sad plains,Fair dame, no farther go!But listen to the martial strains,Whose wildness speaks of woe!

Hark! strife is forward on the field,I hear the trumpet's bray!Now spear to spear, and shield to shield,Decides the dreadful day!

Unfit for thee, oh! Lady fair!The scenes where men engage;Thy gentle spirit could not bearThe fearful battle's rage."

"I prithee, stranger, let me fly!Though pallid is my cheek,The lightning's flash delights my eye,I love the thunder's break.

And oft beneath our castle tow'rs,When tempests rush'd along,My steady hand has painted flowers,Or voice has rais'd the song."

"Oh Lady! that bewilder'd eyeIs red with recent tears;Already that heart-startling sighProclaims thy anxious fears.

Then let a stranger's words prevail,Nor thus in danger roam!Here many frightful ills assail,But safety is at home!"

"No, in some peasant's lowly cotPerhaps she may abide,To consecrate the humble spot,But not where I reside.

In Hubert's halls, my father's foe,From childhood have I dwelt,And for his wily murderer too,A filial fondness felt.

Ah me! how often have I press'dThe lips which seal'd his doom!How oft the cruel hand caress'dWhich sent him to the tomb!

My nurse reveal'd the dreadful truth,And, as she told the tale,A sickly blight pass'd o'er my youth,And turn'd its roses pale.

The heavy secret on my heartLike deadly poison prey'd;For she forbade me to impartA word of what she said.

I, who so blithely sung before,So peacefully had slept,Fancied gaunt murder at the door,And listen'd, shook, and wept.

No longer with an open smile,I greeted all around;My fearful looks were fix'd the while,In terror on the ground.

All saw the change, and kindly stroveMy sadness to relieve;Base Hubert feign'd a parent's love,Which could not see me grieve.

A painful anger flush'd my cheek,My lip indignant smil'd,I cried, "And did he e'er bespeakThy friendship for his child?"

"Ellen! when death was drawing nigh,Thou wert his only care;Oh! guard her, Hubert, if I die,It is my latest prayer.

To none, dear friend, but thee," he cried,"Whose love and truth are known,Could I this precious charge confide,To cherish, as thy own!"

I pledg'd my honour, to fulfilMy dearest friend's desire!And I have ever acted still,As honour's laws require!

Thy mind, dear Ellen, is the proofOf my paternal care,Since form'd beneath this friendly roof,So excellent and fair.

Then why that cloud upon thy brow,That sullen, fearful sigh!That something which we must not know,That cold and altered eye?

Why must thy proud, suspicious air,Give every heart a pain?Why must my son, my Edgar bearUnmerited disdain?"

I hung my bead, my fault'ring tongueIn feeble murmurs spoke,His specious art my bosom wrung,I shudder'd at his look.

And thus, bewildered with my woes,I faint and careless rove;For oh! I cannot dwell with thoseI must no longer love."

"Fair lady, calm that anxious heart,And to my voice attend!Thy father died by Hubert's dart,And yet he was his friend.

For Lancaster Sir Philip rose,And many a Yorkist slew;Till, singling him amidst his foes,Lord Hubert's arrow flew.

But soon we saw the victor standBeside, in sorrow drown'd;And soon Sir Philip took the hand,Which gave the deadly wound.

"My friend, unweeting was thy aim,And is by me forgiv'n,But oh! one sacred oath I claim,In sight of men, and heav'n!

Oh! promise with a father's zeal,My Ellen to protect!Nor let her like an orphan feelDependence, and neglect!

And then, almost without regret,I can my charge resign;For, during life, I never metSo true a heart as thine."

Lord Hubert pledg'd his sacred word,He wept, and, kneeling, swore,In England ne'er to wield a sword,Or shoot an arrow more.

From civil war, whose daily crimesThis island long shall rue,From all the evil of the times,In anguish he withdrew.

I wonder that, by nature bold,He stoop'd to wear disguise,Or leave the hapless tale untold,Which wakens thy surprise!

Yet the sad shame that fill'd his breast,May well thy pity crave,A turtle dove may build her nestUpon thy father's grave--"

"Stranger, that warrior from the east,Who comes with headlong speed,Is Edgar, Hubert's son, at least,He rides on Edgar's steed!"

"Be calm, fair maid! Thou gallant knight,Who speedest o'er the plain,Give us some tidings of the fight,The victor and the slain!

One moment stay! for many a careNow fills us with alarm!Is Edward King? Is Hubert's heir,Escap'd from death and harm?"

"The sun of Lancaster is set,And never more to rise;"Return'd the knight, "I know not yetIf Edgar lives or dies!"

And scarce he check'd the flowing rein,In hurried accents spoke,And, dull and hollow was the strainThat through the helmet broke.

"Where is he?" shriek'd fair Ellen forth,He started at the sound,And, leaping sudden on the earth,His armour rang around.

"Queen of my destiny!" he cried,"Thy faithful Edgar see!Whose welfare thou canst best decide,For it depends on thee!

I sav'd our youthful Monarch's life,Whose bounteous hand accords,A dower to grace the noblest wifeThat England's realm affords.

With thee his splendid gifts I share,Or soon this youthful headA solemn monk's dark cowl shall wear,To love and glory dead.

Perhaps that tear upon thy cheekForetels a milder doom!Thou wilt again our mansion seek,Oh! let me lead thee home!"

Words in this poem 33

dame n.: A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority; especially, a lady. [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam mother, Dan, Danger]
strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
bray v. t.: To pound, beat, rub, or grind small or fine. [OE. brayen, OF. breier, F. broyer to pound, grind, fr. OHG. brehhan to break. See Break.]
dreadful a.: Full of dread or terror; fearful.
prithee interj.: A corruption of pray thee; as, I prithee; generally used without I.
frightful a.: Full of fright; affrighted; frightened.
childhood n.: The state of being a child; the time in which persons are children; the condition or time from infancy to puberty. [AS. cildhad; cild child + -had. See Child, and hood.]
filial a.: Of or pertaining to a son or daughter; becoming to a child in relation to his parents; as, filial obedience. [L. filialis, fr. filius son, filia daughter; akin to e. female, feminine. Cf. Fitz.]
fondness n.: The quality or state of being fond; foolishness.
blithely adv.: In a blithe manner.
gaunt a.: Attenuated, as with fasting or suffering; lean; meager; pinched and grim. [Cf. Norw. gand a thin pointed stick, a tall and thin man, and W. gwan weak.]
shook v. t.: To pack, as staves, in a shook.
sadness n.: Heaviness; firmness.
relieve v. t.: To lift up; to raise again, as one who has fallen; to cause to rise. Piers Plowman. [OE. releven, F. relever to raise again, discharge, relieve, fr. L. relevare to lift up, raise, make light, relieve; pref. re- re- + levare to raise, fr. levis l]
indignant a.: Affected with indignation; wrathful; passionate; irate; feeling wrath, as when a person is exasperated by unworthy or unjust treatment, by a mean action, or by a degrading accusation. [L. indignans, -antis, p. pr. of indignari to be indignant, disdain. See Indign.]
bespeak v. t.: To speak or arrange for beforehand; to order or engage against a future time; as, to bespeak goods, a right, or a favor. [OE. bispeken, AS. besprecan, to speak to, accuse; pref. be- + sprecan to speak. See Speak.]
honour n.: Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
sullen a.: Lonely; solitary; desolate. Wyclif (Job iii. 14). [OE. solein, solain, lonely, sullen; through Old French fr. (assumed) LL. solanus solitary, fr. L. solus alone. See Sole, a.]
spoke n.: The radius or ray of a wheel; one of the small bars which are inserted in the hub, or nave, and which serve to support the rim or felly. [OE. spoke, spake, AS, spaca; akin to D. speek, LG. speke, OHG. speihha, G. speiche. sq. root170. Cf. Spike a nail.]
dwell v. i.: To delay; to linger. [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dväljas to dwell, Dan. dv]
amidst prep.: In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a la]
unweeting a.: Unwitting. Chaucer. [See Un- not, and Weet, Wit.]
wield v. t.: To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess. [OE. welden to govern, to have power over, to possess, AS. geweldan, gewyldan, from wealdan; akin to OS. waldan, OFries. walda, G. walten, OHG. waltan, Icel. val]
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
hapless a.: Without hap or luck; luckless; unfortunate; unlucky; unhappy; as, hapless youth; hapless maid.
untold a.: Not told; not related; not revealed; as, untold secrets.
crave v. t.: To ask with earnestness or importunity; to ask with submission or humility; to beg; to entreat; to beseech; to implore. [AS. crafian; akin to Icel. krefia, Sw. kr, Dan. kr.]
steed n.: A horse, especially a spirited horse for state of war; -- used chiefly in poetry or stately prose. [OE. stede, AS. steda a stud-horse, war horse, fr. stod a stud of breeding steeds; akin to G. stute a mare, Icel. stedda, sto, a stud. *163. See Stud of horses.]
scarce a.: Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See C]
broke v. i.: To transact business for another. Brome. [See Broker, and cf. Brook.]
armour n.: Defensive arms for the body; any clothing or covering worn to protect one's person in battle. [OE. armure, fr. F. armure, OF. armeure, fr. L. armatura. See Armature.]
bounteous a.: Liberal in charity; disposed to give freely; generously liberal; munificent; beneficent; free in bestowing gifts; as, bounteous production. [OE. bountevous, fr. bounte bounty.]
mansion n.: A dwelling place, -- whether a part or whole of a house or other shelter. [OF. mansion, F. maison, fr. L. mansio a staying, remaining, a dwelling, habitation, fr. manere, mansum, to stay, dwell; akin to Gr. Manse, Manor, Menagerie, Men]

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Edgar and Ellen is in the public domain. This text is taken from Poems, Project Gutenberg ebook #9998; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Matilda Betham, Edgar and Ellen, in Poems (1808), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #9998, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/betham-poems/edgar-and-ellen.html, id L23536.

Form and metre

Edgar and Ellen is 176 lines in 44 stanzas of 4 lines each. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, complete in 31 of its 44 stanzas. The metre is common measure, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 94%).

See other poems in common measure.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 ABAB plains^A · go^B · strains^A · woe^B
2 ABAB field^A · bray^B · shield^A · day^B
3 ABAB fair^A · engage^B · bear^A · rage^B
4 A-A- fly^A · cheek · eye^A · break
5 -A-A tow'rs · along^A · flowers · song^A
6 ABAB eye^A · tears^B · sigh^A · fears^B
7 ABAB prevail^A · roam^B · assail^A · home^B
8 ABAB cot^A · abide^B · spot^A · reside^B
9 -A-A foe · dwelt^A · too · felt^A
10 ABAB press'd^A · doom^B · caress'd^A · tomb^B
11 ABAB truth^A · tale^B · youth^A · pale^B
12 A-A- heart^A · prey'd · impart^A · said
13 ABAB before^A · slept^B · door^A · wept^B
14 ABAB smile^A · around^B · while^A · ground^B
15 -A-A strove · relieve^A · love · grieve^A
16 ABAB cheek^A · smil'd^B · bespeak^A · child^B
17 ABAB nigh^A · care^B · die^A · prayer^B
18 ABAB cried^A · known^B · confide^A · own^B
19 -A-A fulfil · desire^A · still · require^A
20 ABAB proof^A · care^B · roof^A · fair^B
21 -A-A brow · sigh^A · know · eye^A
22 ABAB air^A · pain^B · bear^A · disdain^B
23 A-A- tongue^A · spoke · wrung^A · look
24 A-A- woes^A · rove · those^A · love
25 ABAB heart^A · attend^B · dart^A · friend^B
26 ABAB rose^A · slew^B · foes^A · flew^B
27 ABAB stand^A · drown'd^B · hand^A · wound^B
28 A-A- aim^A · forgiv'n · claim^A · heav'n
29 ABAB zeal^A · protect^B · feel^A · neglect^B
30 ABAB regret^A · resign^B · met^A · thine^B
31 -A-A word · swore^A · sword · more^A
32 ABAB crimes^A · rue^B · times^A · withdrew^B
33 ABAB bold^A · disguise^B · untold^A · surprise^B
34 ABAB breast^A · crave^B · nest^A · grave^B
35 ABAB east^A · speed^B · least^A · steed^B
36 ABAB knight^A · plain^B · fight^A · slain^B
37 ABAB care^A · alarm^B · heir^A · harm^B
38 ABAB set^A · rise^B · yet^A · dies^B
39 ABAB rein^A · spoke^B · strain^A · broke^B
40 -A-A forth · sound^A · earth · around^A
41 ABAB cried^A · see^B · decide^A · thee^B
42 ABAB life^A · accords^B · wife^A · affords^B
43 ABAB share^A · head^B · wear^A · dead^B
44 A-A- cheek^A · doom · seek^A · home

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against common measure. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
"Arrest thy steps! On these sad plains,	8	˘/······
Fair dame, no farther go!	6	···/˘·
But listen to the martial strains,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Whose wildness speaks of woe!	6	·/˘···
Hark! strife is forward on the field,	8	···/˘···
I hear the trumpet's bray!	6	···/˘·
Now spear to spear, and shield to shield,	8	········
Decides the dreadful day!	6	˘/·/˘·
Unfit for thee, oh! Lady fair!	8	˘/···/˘·
The scenes where men engage;	6	····˘/
Thy gentle spirit could not bear	8	·/˘/˘···
The fearful battle's rage."	6	·/˘/˘·
"I prithee, stranger, let me fly!	8	·/˘/˘···
Though pallid is my cheek,	6	·/˘···
The lightning's flash delights my eye,	8	·/˘·˘/··
I love the thunder's break.	6	···/˘·
And oft beneath our castle tow'rs,	8	····//˘·
When tempests rush'd along,	6	·/˘·˘/
My steady hand has painted flowers,	9	·/˘··/˘/˘
Or voice has rais'd the song."	6	······
"Oh Lady! that bewilder'd eye	8	·/˘·˘/˘·
Is red with recent tears;	6	···/˘·
Already that heart-startling sigh	8	˘/˘··/˘·
Proclaims thy anxious fears.	6	˘/·/˘·
Then let a stranger's words prevail,	8	···/˘·˘/
Nor thus in danger roam!	6	···/˘·
Here many frightful ills assail,	8	·/˘/˘·˘/
But safety is at home!"	6	·/˘···
"No, in some peasant's lowly cot	8	···/˘/˘·
Perhaps she may abide,	6	˘/··˘/
To consecrate the humble spot,	8	·/˘··/˘·
But not where I reside.	6	····˘/
In Hubert's halls, my father's foe,	8	·/˘··/˘·
From childhood have I dwelt,	6	·/····
And for his wily murderer too,	8	···/˘/˘·
A filial fondness felt.	7	·/˘˘/˘·
Ah me! how often have I press'd	8	···/˘···
The lips which seal'd his doom!	6	······
How oft the cruel hand caress'd	8	···/˘·˘/
Which sent him to the tomb!	6	······
My nurse reveal'd the dreadful truth,	8	··˘/·/˘·
And, as she told the tale,	6	······
A sickly blight pass'd o'er my youth,	8	·/˘·····
And turn'd its roses pale.	6	···/˘·
The heavy secret on my heart	8	·/˘/˘···
Like deadly poison prey'd;	6	·/˘/˘·
For she forbade me to impart	8	··˘/··˘/
A word of what she said.	6	······
I, who so blithely sung before,	8	···/˘···
So peacefully had slept,	6	·/˘˘··
Fancied gaunt murder at the door,	8	/˘·/˘···
And listen'd, shook, and wept.	6	·/˘···
No longer with an open smile,	8	·/˘··/˘·
I greeted all around;	6	·/˘···
My fearful looks were fix'd the while,	8	·/˘·····
In terror on the ground.	6	·/˘···
All saw the change, and kindly strove	8	·····/˘·
My sadness to relieve;	6	·/˘·˘/
Base Hubert feign'd a parent's love,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Which could not see me grieve.	6	······
A painful anger flush'd my cheek,	8	·/˘/˘···
My lip indignant smil'd,	6	··˘/˘·
I cried, "And did he e'er bespeak	8	······˘/
Thy friendship for his child?"	6	·/˘···
"Ellen! when death was drawing nigh,	8	/˘···/˘·
Thou wert his only care;	6	···/˘·
Oh! guard her, Hubert, if I die,	8	···/˘···
It is my latest prayer.	6	···/˘·
To none, dear friend, but thee," he cried,	8	········
"Whose love and truth are known,	6	······
Could I this precious charge confide,	8	···/˘·˘/
To cherish, as thy own!"	6	·/˘···
I pledg'd my honour, to fulfil	8	···/˘···
My dearest friend's desire!	7	·/˘·˘/˘
And I have ever acted still,	8	···/˘/˘·
As honour's laws require!	7	·/˘··/˘
Thy mind, dear Ellen, is the proof	8	···/˘···
Of my paternal care,	6	··˘/˘·
Since form'd beneath this friendly roof,	8	·····/˘·
So excellent and fair.	6	·/˘˘··
Then why that cloud upon thy brow,	8	········
That sullen, fearful sigh!	6	·/˘/˘·
That something which we must not know,	8	·/˘·····
That cold and altered eye?	6	···/˘·
Why must thy proud, suspicious air,	8	····˘/˘·
Give every heart a pain?	7	·/˘˘···
Why must my son, my Edgar bear	8	·····/˘·
Unmerited disdain?"	6	····˘/
I hung my bead, my fault'ring tongue	8	········
In feeble murmurs spoke,	6	·/˘/˘·
His specious art my bosom wrung,	8	·/˘··/˘·
I shudder'd at his look.	6	·/˘···
And thus, bewildered with my woes,	8	··˘/˘···
I faint and careless rove;	6	···/˘·
For oh! I cannot dwell with those	8	···/˘···
I must no longer love."	6	···/˘·
"Fair lady, calm that anxious heart,	8	·/˘··/˘·
And to my voice attend!	6	····˘/
Thy father died by Hubert's dart,	8	·/˘··/˘·
And yet he was his friend.	6	······
For Lancaster Sir Philip rose,	8	·/˘˘·/˘·
And many a Yorkist slew;	7	·/˘····
Till, singling him amidst his foes,	8	·/˘·˘/··
Lord Hubert's arrow flew.	6	·/˘/˘·
But soon we saw the victor stand	8	·····/˘·
Beside, in sorrow drown'd;	6	˘/·/˘·
And soon Sir Philip took the hand,	8	···/˘···
Which gave the deadly wound.	6	···/˘·
"My friend, unweeting was thy aim,	8	··˘/˘···
And is by me forgiv'n,	6	······
But oh! one sacred oath I claim,	8	···/˘···
In sight of men, and heav'n!	6	······
Oh! promise with a father's zeal,	8	·/˘··/˘·
My Ellen to protect!	6	·/˘·˘/
Nor let her like an orphan feel	8	·····/˘·
Dependence, and neglect!	6	˘/˘·˘/
And then, almost without regret,	8	··/···˘/
I can my charge resign;	6	····˘/
For, during life, I never met	8	·/˘··/˘·
So true a heart as thine."	6	······
Lord Hubert pledg'd his sacred word,	8	·/˘··/˘·
He wept, and, kneeling, swore,	6	···/˘·
In England ne'er to wield a sword,	8	·/˘·····
Or shoot an arrow more.	6	···/˘·
From civil war, whose daily crimes	8	·/˘··/˘·
This island long shall rue,	6	·/˘···
From all the evil of the times,	8	···/˘···
In anguish he withdrew.	6	·/˘·˘/
I wonder that, by nature bold,	8	·/˘··/˘·
He stoop'd to wear disguise,	6	····˘/
Or leave the hapless tale untold,	8	···/˘·˘/
Which wakens thy surprise!	6	·/˘·˘/
Yet the sad shame that fill'd his breast,	8	········
May well thy pity crave,	6	···/˘·
A turtle dove may build her nest	8	·/˘·····
Upon thy father's grave--"	6	···/˘·
"Stranger, that warrior from the east,	8	/˘·/˘···
Who comes with headlong speed,	6	···/··
Is Edgar, Hubert's son, at least,	8	·/˘/˘···
He rides on Edgar's steed!"	6	···/˘·
"Be calm, fair maid! Thou gallant knight,	8	·····/˘·
Who speedest o'er the plain,	6	·/˘···
Give us some tidings of the fight,	8	···/˘···
The victor and the slain!	6	·/˘···
One moment stay! for many a care	8	·/˘··/··
Now fills us with alarm!	6	····˘/
Is Edward King? Is Hubert's heir,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Escap'd from death and harm?"	6	˘/····
"The sun of Lancaster is set,	8	···/˘˘··
And never more to rise;"	6	·/˘···
Return'd the knight, "I know not yet	8	˘/······
If Edgar lives or dies!"	6	·/˘···
And scarce he check'd the flowing rein,	8	·····/˘·
In hurried accents spoke,	6	·/˘/˘·
And, dull and hollow was the strain	8	···/˘···
That through the helmet broke.	6	···/˘·
"Where is he?" shriek'd fair Ellen forth,	8	·····/˘·
He started at the sound,	6	·/˘···
And, leaping sudden on the earth,	8	·/˘/˘···
His armour rang around.	6	·/˘···
"Queen of my destiny!" he cried,	8	···/˘˘··
"Thy faithful Edgar see!	6	·/˘/˘·
Whose welfare thou canst best decide,	8	·/····˘/
For it depends on thee!	6	··˘/··
I sav'd our youthful Monarch's life,	8	··//˘/··
Whose bounteous hand accords,	7	·/˘˘·˘/
A dower to grace the noblest wife	8	·····/˘·
That England's realm affords.	6	·/˘·˘/
With thee his splendid gifts I share,	8	···/˘···
Or soon this youthful head	6	···/˘·
A solemn monk's dark cowl shall wear,	8	·/˘·····
To love and glory dead.	6	···/˘·
Perhaps that tear upon thy cheek	8	˘/······
Foretels a milder doom!	7	····/˘·
Thou wilt again our mansion seek,	8	··˘///˘·
Oh! let me lead thee home!"	6	······

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

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