In Imitation Of E. Of Rochester : On Silence Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABBB ACCD AEFF GHHH GIJI GGGG GKKK GFFF KLLL KGGG GKKK KKKK KMMN GGGG| I | A |
| Silence coeval with Eternity | B |
| Thou wert ere Nature's self began to be | B |
| 'Twas one vast Nothing all and all slept fast in thee | B |
| - | |
| II | A |
| Thine was the sway ere heav'n was form'd or earth | C |
| Ere fruitful Thought conceiv'd creation's birth | C |
| Or midwife Word gave aid and spoke the infant forth | D |
| - | |
| III | A |
| Then various elements against thee join'd | E |
| In one more various animal combin'd | F |
| And fam'd the clam'rous race of busy Human kind | F |
| - | |
| IV | G |
| The tongue mov'd gently first and speech was low | H |
| 'Till wrangling Science taught it noise and show | H |
| And wicked Wit arose thy most abusive foe | H |
| - | |
| V | G |
| But rebel Wit deserts thee oft' in vain | I |
| Lost in the maze of words he turns again | J |
| And seeks a surer state and courts thy gentle reign | I |
| - | |
| VI | G |
| Afflicted Sense thou kindly dost set free | G |
| Oppress'd with argumental tyranny | G |
| And routed Reason finds a safe retreat in thee | G |
| - | |
| VII | G |
| With thee in private modest Dulness lies | K |
| And in thy bosom lurks in Thought's disguise | K |
| Thou varnisher of Fools and cheat of all the Wise | K |
| - | |
| VIII | G |
| Yet thy indulgence is by both confest | F |
| Folly by thee lies sleeping in the breast | F |
| And 'tis in thee at last that Wisdom seeks for rest | F |
| - | |
| IX | K |
| Silence the knave's repute the whore's good name | L |
| The only honour of the wishing dame | L |
| Thy very want of tongue makes thee a kind of Fame | L |
| - | |
| X | K |
| But could'st thou seize some tongues that now are free | G |
| How Church and State should be oblig'd to thee | G |
| At Senate and at Bar how welcome would'st thou be | G |
| - | |
| XI | G |
| Yet speech ev'n there submissively withdraws | K |
| From rights of subjects and the poor man's cause | K |
| Then pompous Silence reigns and stills the noisy Laws | K |
| - | |
| XII | K |
| Past services of friends good deeds of foes | K |
| What Fav'rites gain and what the Nation owes | K |
| Fly the forgetful world and in thy arms repose | K |
| - | |
| XIII | K |
| The country wit religion of the town | M |
| The courtier's learning policy o' th' gown | M |
| Are best by thee express'd and shine in thee alone | N |
| - | |
| XIV | G |
| The parson's cant the lawyer's sophistry | G |
| Lord's quibble critic's jest all end in thee | G |
| All rest in peace at last and sleep eternally | G |
Alexander Pope
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