The Ballad Of The Dark Ladie. A Fragment. by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

 

The Ballad Of The Dark Ladie. A Fragment.

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(Poem, Summary, & Analysis) 

The Ballad Of The Dark Ladie. A Fragment.

Beneath yon birch with silver bark,

And boughs so pendulous and fair,

The brook falls scatter'd down the rock:

And all is mossy there!

 

And there upon the moss she sits,

The Dark Ladie in silent pain;

The heavy tear is in her eye,

And drops and swells again.

 

Three times she sends her little page

Up the castled mountain's breast,

If he might find the Knight that wears

The Griffin for his crest.

 

The sun was sloping down the sky,

And she had linger'd there all day,

Counting moments, dreaming fears--

Oh wherefore can he stay?

 

She hears a rustling o'er the brook,

She sees far off a swinging bough!

"'Tis He! 'Tis my betrothed Knight!

Lord Falkland, it is Thou!"

 

She springs, she clasps him round the neck,

She sobs a thousand hopes and fears,

Her kisses glowing on his cheeks

She quenches with her tears.

 

* * * * *

 

"My friends with rude ungentle words

They scoff and bid me fly to thee!

O give me shelter in thy breast!

O shield and shelter me!

 

"My Henry, I have given thee much,

I gave what I can ne'er recall,

I gave my heart, I gave my peace,

O Heaven! I gave thee all."

 

The Knight made answer to the Maid,

While to his heart he held her hand,

"Nine castles hath my noble sire,

None statelier in the land.

 

"The fairest one shall be my love's,

The fairest castle of the nine!

Wait only till the stars peep out,

The fairest shall be thine:

 

"Wait only till the hand of eve

Hath wholly closed yon western bars,

And through the dark we two will steal

Beneath the twinkling stars!"--

 

"The dark? the dark? No! not the dark?

The twinkling stars? How, Henry? How?

O God! 'twas in the eye of noon

He pledged his sacred vow!

 

"And in the eye of noon my love

Shall lead me from my mother's door,

Sweet boys and girls all clothed in white

Strewing flowers before:

 

"But first the nodding minstrels go

With music meet for lordly bowers,

The children next in snow-white vests,

Strewing buds and flowers!

 

"And then my love and I shall pace,

My jet black hair in pearly braids,

Between our comely bachelors

And blushing bridal maids."

 

* * * * *

 

Summary

The poem opens with a serene and picturesque natural setting. A birch tree with silvery bark and hanging branches stands near a rocky stream. The brook gently cascades over the rocks, breaking into small streams, and the area is covered in soft, green moss.

In this tranquil place, a solitary figure—referred to as the Dark Ladie—is seated on the moss. She appears to be silently suffering. There is a heavy tear in her eye, which continues to gather and fall, indicating that she is quietly weeping or overwhelmed with sorrow.

Following this scene, the Dark Ladie begins to speak. She reflects on her childhood and recalls the time when she was still with her mother. Her mother used to sing to her and bless her as she slept in her arms. The memory is tender and filled with warmth, contrasting her current sadness.

The Dark Ladie then shifts her focus to her father. She speaks of a time when her father was away and mentions that, during his absence, he was deceived. When he returned, he believed slanderous things about her, implying that she had been falsely accused. This led to estrangement between them.

She recounts how her father then placed her into the care of a "stern lady," who was cold and unkind. This woman deprived her of the affection and comfort she once knew. The Dark Ladie speaks of being surrounded by books and stern teachings, but without love or emotional support. She felt isolated, and her natural joy and innocence began to fade.

Despite the harshness of her upbringing, she describes how she maintained an inner world of beauty and imagination. She speaks of singing and of her love for a youth—though she only hints at this, it seems her feelings were deep and genuine. She recalls singing softly and looking forward to his presence, though their connection was innocent.

However, this joy did not last. She describes how her father discovered her affection for the youth and responded with fury. He separated them, and from that point, her life became even more sorrowful. She felt lost and abandoned.

The poem ends before the full story is revealed, leaving the narrative incomplete. It concludes still in the tone of emotional pain and longing, with the Dark Ladie sitting quietly in nature, burdened by the weight of her memories and grief.

 

Analysis in Detail

 

Form and Structure

Fragmentary Nature: As the subtitle indicates, the poem is a fragment, meaning it is incomplete. Coleridge never finished it, which adds to its mystery and emotional poignancy. The abrupt end enhances the sense of loss and longing.

Ballad Form: It mimics the traditional ballad form with its simple quatrains (four-line stanzas), a musical quality, and a narrative structure, but it’s far more introspective than typical folk ballads.

Rhyme and Meter: The rhyme scheme alternates, often ABAB or ABCB, with iambic meter—creating a lilting, almost song-like rhythm that contrasts with the emotional heaviness of the subject.

 

Tone and Mood

The tone is melancholic, tender, and deeply introspective.

There’s a quiet sorrow throughout the poem, conveyed not through dramatic language but through gentle, subdued imagery.

The setting and voice evoke loneliness, betrayal, and abandonment, but also hints of innocent love and childhood nostalgia.

 

Setting and Imagery

The opening stanzas establish a vivid, peaceful natural setting: a silver-barked birch tree, a cascading brook, moss-covered rocks.

This idyllic landscape contrasts sharply with the inner turmoil of the Dark Ladie, reinforcing Romantic themes where nature reflects or contrasts with human emotion.

Coleridge’s imagery is visual (silver bark, moss, brook) and emotional (tear-filled eyes, silent pain), making the personal suffering tangible.

 

Characterization of the Dark Ladie

She is a solitary, deeply emotional, and reflective figure.

Her "darkness" may symbolize her sorrow or her marginalization (by her father and society).

She speaks with dignity and restraint, suggesting an inner strength, despite the emotional wounds.

Her voice is lyrical and personal, revealing her innocence, her love for her mother, and her yearning for lost affection.

 

Themes

1. Loss and Separation

The poem is shaped by a sense of emotional and physical separation—from her mother, from her father, from her beloved.

Her father’s betrayal, by believing false accusations, introduces the pain of misjudgment and injustice.

 

2. Childhood and Innocence

She fondly remembers her mother's songs and blessings, representing a time of safety and love.

This innocence is then shattered by external forces—her father’s mistrust and her placement with a stern guardian.

 

3. Love and Longing

Her unspoken affection for a young man is presented as pure and gentle.

Coleridge emphasizes that her love was innocent, making the punishment seem more tragic.

Romantic longing is central, not only for romantic love but for familial love and emotional connection.

 

4. Nature and Emotion

The natural world around her does not echo her pain but encloses her sorrow in silence.

Nature is a silent witness to her suffering, almost like a companion to her solitude.

 

5. Injustice and Power

The father's role is authoritative and punitive.

His swift judgment and the way he removes her from warmth and comfort reflect societal control over women and young people.

There’s a subtle critique of patriarchal authority and its cold, often unjust exercise.

 

Language and Style

Lyrical and Simple: The language is straightforward, enhancing its emotional clarity. There’s a musicality in the repetition and rhythm.

Repetition: Lines such as “The heavy tear is in her eye, / And drops and swells again” emphasize the constancy of her sorrow.

Contrast: Between external calm (the mossy setting) and internal pain (her silent suffering).

 

Symbolism:

Birch tree and brook: Could symbolize purity and the flow of time or tears.

Moss: Softness and silence—a place of stillness and sorrow.

Dark Ladie: Could signify a woman marked by sadness, mystery, or societal misunderstanding.

 

Coleridge’s Romantic Vision

Like other Romantic poets, Coleridge is concerned with emotion, memory, individual suffering, and imagination.

He blends the personal with the universal—her story feels intimate but reflects broader human experiences of grief and alienation.

He also shows sympathy for female emotion and voice, giving the Dark Ladie the space to tell her story.

 

In Summary

The Ballad of the Dark Ladie is a delicate, haunting fragment that captures the inner world of a sorrowful young woman through lyrical simplicity and Romantic sensitivity. It paints a picture of innocence betrayed, love lost, and deep emotional solitude, all against the backdrop of a beautiful but silent natural world.