Austerity Of Poetry
That son of Italy who tried to blow,
Ere Dante came, the trump of sacred song,
In his light youth amid a festal throng
Sate with his bride to see a public show.
Fair was the bride, and on her front did glow
Youth like a star; and what to youth belong--
Gay raiment, sparkling gauds, elation strong.
A prop gave way! crash fell a platform! lo,
'Mid struggling sufferers, hurt to death, she lay!
Shuddering, they drew her garments off--and found
A robe of sackcloth next the smooth, white skin.
Such, poets, is your bride, the Muse! young, gay,
Radiant, adorn'd outside; a hidden ground
Of thought and of austerity within.
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Structured as a sonnet - a
Structured as a sonnet - a fourteen line poem format that originated in Italy.
Structure and meter differs from Shakesperian form. Arnold chooses to organize it in two stanzas of four lines, and two stanzas of three lines.
The obvious shift in mood occurs between the four line and three line stanzas, when the props fall on the bride and her guise is revealed.
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