Fragment Of A Greek Tragedy Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDECFG HIJKLGMANFOPQRSTUVWX Y Z A2B2C2GCA2D2ZE2F2G2D E2H2I2A2J2K2 Z A2E2E2L2M2SA2E2L2E2E 2H2E2H2L2H2L2N2 L2 L2O2E2E2E2L2P2E2E2L2 L2L2L2L2 Q2A2E2R2FL2L2E2L2S2T 2L2

CHORUS O suitably attired in leather bootsA
Head of a traveller wherefore seeking whomB
Whence by what way how purposed art thou comeC
To this well nightingaled vicinityD
My object in inquiring is to knowE
But if you happen to be deaf and dumbC
And do not understand a word I sayF
Then wave your hand to signify as muchG
-
ALCMAEON I journeyed hither a Boetian roadH
CHORUS Sailing on horseback or with feet for oarsI
ALCMAEON Plying with speed my partnership of legsJ
CHORUS Beneath a shining or a rainy ZeusK
ALCMAEON Mud's sister not himself adorns my shoesL
CHORUS To learn your name would not displease me muchG
ALCMAEON Not all that men desire do they obtainM
CHORUS Might I then hear at what thy presence shootsA
ALCMAEON A shepherd's questioned mouth informed me thatN
CHORUS What for I know not yet what you will sayF
ALCMAEON Nor will you ever if you interruptO
CHORUS Proceed and I will hold my speechless tongueP
ALCMAEON This house was Eriphyle's no one else'sQ
CHORUS Nor did he shame his throat with shameful liesR
ALCMAEON May I then enter passing through the doorS
CHORUS Go chase into the house a lucky footT
And O my son be on the one hand goodU
And do not on the other hand be badV
For that is much the safest planW
ALCMAEON I go into the house with heels and speedX
-
CHORUSY
-
StropheZ
-
In speculationA2
I would not willingly acquire a nameB2
For ill digested thoughtC2
But after pondering muchG
To this conclusion I at last have comeC
LIFE IS UNCERTAINA2
This truth I have written deepD2
In my reflective midriffZ
On tablets not of waxE2
Nor with a pen did I inscribe it thereF2
For many reasons LIFE I say IS NOTG2
A STRANGER TO UNCERTAINTYD
Not from the flight of omen yelling fowlsE2
This fact did I discoverH2
Nor did the Delphine tripod bark it outI2
Nor yet DodonaA2
Its native ingunuity sufficedJ2
My self taught diaphragmK2
-
AntistropheZ
-
Why should I mentionA2
The Inachean daughter loved of ZeusE2
Her whom of old the godsE2
More provident than kindL2
Provided with four hoofs two horns one tailM2
A gift not asked forS
And sent her forth to learnA2
The unfamiliar scienceE2
Of how to chew the cudL2
She therefore all about the Argive fieldsE2
Went cropping pale green grass and nettle topsE2
Nor did they disagree with herH2
But yet howe'er nutritious such repastsE2
I do not hanker afterH2
Never may Cypris for her seat selectL2
My dappled liverH2
Why should I mention Io Why indeedL2
I have no notion whyN2
-
EpodeL2
-
But now does my boding heartL2
Unhired unaccompanied singO2
A strain not meet for the danceE2
Yes even the palace appearsE2
To my yoke of circular eyesE2
The right nor omit I the leftL2
Like a slaughterhouse so to speakP2
Garnished with woolly deathsE2
And many sphipwrecks of cowsE2
I therefore in a Cissian strain lamentL2
And to the rapidL2
Loud linen tattering thumps upon my chestL2
Resounds in concertL2
The battering of my unlucky headL2
-
ERIPHYLE within O I am smitten with a hatchet's jawQ2
And that in deed and not in word aloneA2
CHORUS I thought I heard a sound within the houseE2
Unlike the voice of one that jumps for joyR2
ERIPHYLE He splits my skull not in a friendly wayF
Once more he purposes to kill me deadL2
CHORUS I would not be reputed rash but yetL2
I doubt if all be gay within the houseE2
ERIPHYLE O O another stroke that makes the thirdL2
He stabs me to the heart against my wishS2
CHORUS If that be so thy state of health is poorT2
But thine arithmetic is quite correctL2

Alfred Edward Housman



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