The Usurpation Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABBACCBB DEEDBBFF GHHGIIFF JBBJKLMM BNBBOOCC| Thou 'adst to my soul no title or pretence | A |
| I was mine own and free | B |
| Till I had given myself to thee | B |
| But thou hast kept me slave and prisoner since | A |
| Well since so insolent thou 'rt grown | C |
| Fond tyrant I'll depose thee from thy throne | C |
| Such outrages must not admitted be | B |
| In an elective monarchy | B |
| - | |
| Part of my heart by gift did to thee fall | D |
| My country kindred and my best | E |
| Acquaintance were to share the rest | E |
| But thou their covetous neighbour drav'st out all | D |
| Nay more thou mak'st me worship thee | B |
| And wouldst the rule of my religion be | B |
| Did ever tyrant claim such power as you | F |
| To be both emperor and pope too | F |
| - | |
| The public miseries and my private fate | G |
| Deserve some tears but greedy thou | H |
| Insatiate maid wilt not allow | H |
| That I one drop from thee should alienate | G |
| Nor wilt thou grant my sins a part | I |
| Though the sole cause of most of them thou art | I |
| Counting my tears thy tribute and thy due | F |
| Since first mine eyes I gave to you | F |
| - | |
| Thou all my joys and all my hopes dost claim | J |
| Thou ragest like a fire in me | B |
| Converting all things into thee | B |
| Nought can resist or not encrease the flame | J |
| Nay every grief and every fear | K |
| Thou dost devour unless thy stamp it bear | L |
| Thy presence like the crowned basilisk's breath | M |
| All other serpents puts to death | M |
| - | |
| As men in hell are from diseases free | B |
| So from all other ills am I | N |
| Free from their known formality | B |
| But all pains eminently lie in thee | B |
| Alas alas I hope in vain | O |
| My conquer'd soul from out thine hands to gain | O |
| Since all the natives there thou 'ast overthrown | C |
| And planted garrisons of thine own | C |
Abraham Cowley
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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