The Rape Of The Lock (canto 3) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBBBCDEEFFGGAAHH CCIIAAAABBJIKKCCAA LLCCMMNN CC AAOOPPKKAAPPQQCRSS PPAATTUUVV AAWWGGAAXXYY AAZZA2A2B2B2GGAAXX B2B2CC C2C2AATTD2D2D2D2D2D2 AANND2D2CC A2A2AAD2D2AAD2D2CCCC D2D2D2D2D2D2D2D2 D2D2D2D2NE2CC AAD2D2XX IICCD2D2AAF2G2D2D2CC D2D2A2A2

Close by those meads for ever crown'd with flow'rsA
Where Thames with pride surveys his rising tow'rsA
There stands a structure of majestic frameB
Which from the neighb'ring Hampton takes its nameB
Here Britain's statesmen oft the fall foredoomB
Of foreign tyrants and of nymphs at homeB
Here thou great Anna whom three realms obeyC
Dost sometimes counsel take and sometimes teaD
Hither the heroes and the nymphs resortE
To taste awhile the pleasures of a courtE
In various talk th' instructive hours they pass'dF
Who gave the ball or paid the visit lastF
One speaks the glory of the British queenG
And one describes a charming Indian screenG
A third interprets motions looks and eyesA
At ev'ry word a reputation diesA
Snuff or the fan supply each pause of chatH
With singing laughing ogling and all thatH
-
Meanwhile declining from the noon of dayC
The sun obliquely shoots his burning rayC
The hungry judges soon the sentence signI
And wretches hang that jury men may dineI
The merchant from th' Exchange returns in peaceA
And the long labours of the toilet ceaseA
Belinda now whom thirst of fame invitesA
Burns to encounter two adventrous knightsA
At ombre singly to decide their doomB
And swells her breast with conquests yet to comeB
Straight the three bands prepare in arms to joinJ
Each band the number of the sacred nineI
Soon as she spreads her hand th' aerial guardK
Descend and sit on each important cardK
First Ariel perch'd upon a MatadoreC
Then each according to the rank they boreC
For Sylphs yet mindful of their ancient raceA
Are as when women wondrous fond of placeA
-
Behold four Kings in majesty rever'dL
With hoary whiskers and a forky beardL
And four fair Queens whose hands sustain a flow'rC
Th' expressive emblem of their softer pow'rC
Four Knaves in garbs succinct a trusty bandM
Caps on their heads and halberds in their handM
And parti colour'd troops a shining trainN
Draw forth to combat on the velvet plainN
-
The skilful nymph reviews her force with careC
Let Spades be trumps she said and trumps they wereC
-
Now move to war her sable MatadoresA
In show like leaders of the swarthy MoorsA
Spadillio first unconquerable lordO
Led off two captive trumps and swept the boardO
As many more Manillio forc'd to yieldP
And march'd a victor from the verdant fieldP
Him Basto follow'd but his fate more hardK
Gain'd but one trump and one plebeian cardK
With his broad sabre next a chief in yearsA
The hoary Majesty of Spades appearsA
Puts forth one manly leg to sight reveal'dP
The rest his many colour'd robe conceal'dP
The rebel Knave who dares his prince engageQ
Proves the just victim of his royal rageQ
Ev'n mighty Pam that kings and queens o'erthrewC
And mow'd down armies in the fights of looR
Sad chance of war now destitute of aidS
Falls undistinguish'd by the victor SpadeS
-
Thus far both armies to Belinda yieldP
Now to the baron fate inclines the fieldP
His warlike Amazon her host invadesA
Th' imperial consort of the crown of SpadesA
The Club's black tyrant first her victim diedT
Spite of his haughty mien and barb'rous prideT
What boots the regal circle on his headU
His giant limbs in state unwieldy spreadU
That long behind he trails his pompous robeV
And of all monarchs only grasps the globeV
-
The baron now his diamonds pours apaceA
Th' embroider'd King who shows but half his faceA
And his refulgent Queen with pow'rs combin'dW
Of broken troops an easy conquest findW
Clubs Diamonds Hearts in wild disorder seenG
With throngs promiscuous strow the level greenG
Thus when dispers'd a routed army runsA
Of Asia's troops and Afric's sable sonsA
With like confusion diff'rent nations flyX
Of various habit and of various dyeX
The pierc'd battalions disunited fallY
In heaps on heaps one fate o'erwhelms them allY
-
The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily artsA
And wins oh shameful chance the Queen of HeartsA
At this the blood the virgin's cheek forsookZ
A livid paleness spreads o'er all her lookZ
She sees and trembles at th' approaching illA2
Just in the jaws of ruin and codilleA2
And now as oft in some distemper'd stateB2
On one nice trick depends the gen'ral fateB2
An Ace of Hearts steps forth The King unseenG
Lurk'd in her hand and mourn'd his captive QueenG
He springs to vengeance with an eager paceA
And falls like thunder on the prostrate AceA
The nymph exulting fills with shouts the skyX
The walls the woods and long canals replyX
-
Oh thoughtless mortals ever blind to fateB2
Too soon dejected and too soon elateB2
Sudden these honours shall be snatch'd awayC
And curs'd for ever this victorious dayC
-
For lo the board with cups and spoons is crown'dC2
The berries crackle and the mill turns roundC2
On shining altars of Japan they raiseA
The silver lamp the fiery spirits blazeA
From silver spouts the grateful liquors glideT
While China's earth receives the smoking tideT
At once they gratify their scent and tasteD2
And frequent cups prolong the rich repastD2
Straight hover round the fair her airy bandD2
Some as she sipp'd the fuming liquor fann'dD2
Some o'er her lap their careful plumes display'dD2
Trembling and conscious of the rich brocadeD2
Coffee which makes the politician wiseA
And see through all things with his half shut eyesA
Sent up in vapours to the baron's brainN
New stratagems the radiant lock to gainN
Ah cease rash youth desist ere 'tis too lateD2
Fear the just gods and think of Scylla's fateD2
Chang'd to a bird and sent to flit in airC
She dearly pays for Nisus' injur'd hairC
-
But when to mischief mortals bend their willA2
How soon they find fit instruments of illA2
Just then Clarissa drew with tempting graceA
A two edg'd weapon from her shining caseA
So ladies in romance assist their knightD2
Present the spear and arm him for the fightD2
He takes the gift with rev'rence and extendsA
The little engine on his fingers' endsA
This just behind Belinda's neck he spreadD2
As o'er the fragrant steams she bends her headD2
Swift to the lock a thousand sprites repairC
A thousand wings by turns blow back the hairC
And thrice they twitch'd the diamond in her earC
Thrice she look'd back and thrice the foe drew nearC
Just in that instant anxious Ariel soughtD2
The close recesses of the virgin's thoughtD2
As on the nosegay in her breast reclin'dD2
He watch'd th' ideas rising in her mindD2
Sudden he view'd in spite of all her artD2
An earthly lover lurking at her heartD2
Amaz'd confus'd he found his pow'r expir'dD2
Resign'd to fate and with a sigh retir'dD2
-
The peer now spreads the glitt'ring forfex wideD2
T' inclose the lock now joins it to divideD2
Ev'n then before the fatal engine clos'dD2
A wretched Sylph too fondly interpos'dD2
Fate urg'd the shears and cut the Sylph in twainN
But airy substance soon unites againE2
The meeting points the sacred hair disseverC
From the fair head for ever and for everC
-
Then flash'd the living lightning from her eyesA
And screams of horror rend th' affrighted skiesA
Not louder shrieks to pitying Heav'n are castD2
When husbands or when lap dogs breathe their lastD2
Or when rich China vessels fall'n from highX
In glitt'ring dust and painted fragments lieX
-
Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twineI
The victor cried the glorious prize is mineI
While fish in streams or birds delight in airC
Or in a coach and six the British fairC
As long atAtalantis shall be readD2
Or the small pillow grace a lady's bedD2
While visits shall be paid on solemn daysA
When num'rous wax lights in bright order blazeA
While nymphs take treats or assignations giveF2
So long my honour name and praise shall liveG2
What time would spare from steel receives its dateD2
And monuments like men submit to fateD2
Steel could the labour of the gods destroyC
And strike to dust th' imperial tow'rs of TroyC
Steel could the works of mortal pride confoundD2
And hew triumphal arches to the groundD2
What wonder then fair nymph thy hairs should feelA2
The conqu'ring force of unresisted steelA2

Alexander Pope



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