It Was an English Ladye Bright Analysis

It was an English ladye bright,
(The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,)
And she would marry a Scottish knight,
For Love will still be lord of all.

Blithely they saw the rising sun
When he shone fair on Carlisle wall;
But they were sad ere day was done,
Though Love was still the lord of all.

Her sire gave brooch and jewel fine,
Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall;
Her brother gave but a flask of wine,
For ire that Love was lord of all.

For she had lands both meadow and lea,
Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,
And he swore her death, ere he would see
A Scottish knight the lord of all.

That wine she had not tasted well
(The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,)
When dead, in her true love's arms, she fell,
For Love was still the lord of all!

He pierced her brother to the heart,
Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall:--
So perish all would true love part
That Love may still be lord of all!

And then he took the cross divine,
Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,
And died for her sake in Palestine;
So Love was still the lord of all.

Now all ye lovers, that faithful prove,
(The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall,)
Pray for their souls who died for love,
For Love shall still be lord of all!

.: :.

He liked repeating two of his lines and for some reason it worked for him. I love the Olde English vocabulary used in the poem. I like trying to write poetry like this. The rhythm he's used is very fluid and makes the poem easy to read. The ryhming feels very natural, not stiff or forced. It's a sad tale of love and woe and he's told it very well. I always thought that sire meant father but here he's talking about her having gotten married so I'm wondering if sire is used for husband as well.

| Posted on 2004-11-23 | by larrysgirl5548