What lines rhyme in a ballad?

In a traditional ballad, the most common rhyme scheme is ABAB. This means that the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyme.

Here's an example:

The wind it blew, the rain it fell, (A)

The ship it sank, the sailors fell. (B)

The captain cried, the crew did yell, (A)

But none could save them from the swell. (B)

However, it's important to remember that not all ballads adhere strictly to this scheme. Some ballads might use different rhyme schemes, like AABB, or even have no rhyme at all.

Here are some other important features of ballad rhyme:

* Simple rhymes: Ballads often use simple rhymes like "fell" and "swell," or "day" and "way."

* End rhymes: Rhymes typically occur at the end of lines.

* Alternating rhymes: In an ABAB scheme, the rhymes alternate between lines.

Ultimately, the specific rhyme scheme of a ballad can vary, but the ABAB pattern is the most common and characteristic of the genre.