First Anniversary Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCD EEFFGG HHIIJKLLMMNNOPQQRSTT AAUUVVAAWWAA AAXX YYYYAAYY YYAAYYZZAA YYA2A2B2B2AA C2C2YYYYAAYYQQ D2D2YYYYYYAAE2E2 YYF2FXXMMYYAAYYFFYY YYG2G2H2H2YY YYI2I2J2J2 B2B2K2K2YYYYYYAAL2L2 YYYYYYM2M2YYAAYY N2N2AAYYO2O2YYYYAAK2 K2 D2Y

Like the vain curlings of the watery mazeA
Which in smooth streams a sinking weight does raiseA
So Man declining always disappearsB
In the weak circles of increasing yearsB
And his short tumults of themselves composeC
While flowing Time above his head does closeD
-
Cromwell alone with greater vigour runsE
Sun like the stages of succeeding sunsE
And still the day which he doth next restoreF
Is the just wonder of the day beforeF
Cromwell alone doth with new lustre springG
And shines the jewel of the yearly ringG
-
'Tis he the force of scattered time contractsH
And in one year the work of ages actsH
While heavy monarchs make a wide returnI
Longer and more malignant than SaturnI
And though they all Platonic years should reignJ
In the same posture would be found againK
Their earthy projects under ground they layL
More slow and brittle than the China clayL
Well may they strive to leave them to their sonM
For one thing never was by one king doneM
Yet some more active for a frontier townN
Taken by proxy beg a false renownN
Another triumphs at the public costO
And will have won if he no more have lostP
They fight by others but in person wrongQ
And only are against their subjects strongQ
Their other wars seem but a feigned cont stR
This common enemy is still oppressedS
If conquerors on them they turn their mightT
If conquered on them they wreak their spiteT
They neither build the temple in their daysA
Nor matter for succeeding founders raiseA
Nor sacred prophecies consult withinU
Much less themself to p fect them beginU
No other care they bear of things aboveV
But with astrologers divine of JoveV
To know how long their planet yet reprievesA
From the deserv d fate their guilty livesA
Thus image like an useless time they tellW
And with vain sceptre strike the hourly bellW
Nor more contribute to the state of thingsA
Than wooden heads unto the viol's stringsA
-
While indefatigable Cromwell hiesA
And cuts his way still nearer to the skiesA
Learning a music in the region clearX
To tune this lower to that higher sphereX
-
So when Amphion did the lute commandY
Which the god gave him with his gentle handY
The rougher stones unto his measures hewedY
Danced up in order from the quarries rudeY
This took a lower that an higher placeA
As he the treble altered or the bassA
No note he struck but a new stone was laidY
And the great work ascended while he playedY
-
The listening structures he with wonder eyedY
And still new stops to various time appliedY
Now through the strings a martial rage he throwsA
And joining straight the Theban tower aroseA
Then as he strokes them with a touch more sweetY
The flocking marbles in a palace meetY
But for the most the graver notes did tryZ
Therefore the temples reared their columns highZ
Thus ere he ceased his sacred lute createsA
Th' harmonious city of the seven gatesA
-
Such was that wondrous order and consentY
When Cromwell tuned the ruling InstrumentY
While tedious statesmen many years did hackA2
Framing a liberty that still went backA2
Whose numerous gorge could swallow in an hourB2
That island which the sea cannot devourB2
Then our Amphion issued out and singsA
And once he struck and twice the powerful stringsA
-
The Commonwealth then first together cameC2
And each one entered in the willing frameC2
All other matter yields and may be ruledY
But who the minds of stubborn men can buildY
No quarry bears a stone so hardly wroughtY
Nor with such labour from its centre broughtY
None to be sunk in the foundation bendsA
Each in the house the highest place contendsA
And each the hand that lays him will directY
And some fall back upon the architectY
Yet all composed by his attractive songQ
Into the animated city throngQ
-
The Commonwealth does through their centres allD2
Draw the circumference of the public wallD2
The crossest spirits here do take their partY
Fastening the contignation which they thwartY
And they whose nature leads them to divideY
Uphold this one and that the other sideY
But the most equal still sustain the heightY
And they as pillars keep the work uprightY
While the resistance of oppos d mindsA
The fabric as with arches stronger bindsA
Which on the basis of a senate freeE2
Knit by the roof's protecting weight agreeE2
-
When for his foot he thus a place had foundY
He hurls e'er since the world about him roundY
And in his several aspects like a starF2
Here shines in peace and thither shoots in warF
While by his beams observing princes steerX
And wisely court the influence they fearX
O would they rather by his pattern wonM
Kiss the approaching not yet angry SonM
And in their numbered footsteps humbly treadY
The path where holy oracles do leadY
How might they under such a captain raiseA
The great designs kept for the latter daysA
But mad with reason so miscalled of stateY
They know them not and what they know not hateY
Hence still they sing hosanna to the whoreF
And her whom they should massacre adoreF
But Indians whom they would convert subdueY
Nor teach but traffic with or burn the JewY
-
Unhappy princes ignorantly bredY
By malice some by error more misledY
If gracious heaven to my life give lengthG2
Leisure to time and to my weaknes strengthG2
Then shall I once with graver accents shakeH2
Your regal sloth and your long slumbers wakeH2
Like the shrill huntsman that prevents the eastY
Winding his horn to kings that chase the beastY
-
Till then my muse shall hollo far behindY
Angelic Cromwell who outwings the windY
And in dark nights and in cold days aloneI2
Pursues the monster through every throneI2
Which shrinking to her Roman den impureJ2
Gnashes her gory teeth nor there secureJ2
-
Hence oft I think if in some happy hourB2
High grace should meet in one with highest powerB2
And then a seasonable people stillK2
Should bend to his as he to heaven's willK2
What we might hope what wonderful effectY
From such a wished conjuncture might reflectY
Sure the mysterious work where none withstandY
Would forthwith finish under such a handY
Foreshortened time its useless course would stayY
And soon precipitate the latest dayY
But a thick cloud about that morning liesA
And intercepts the beams of mortal eyesA
That 'tis the most which we determine canL2
If these the times then this must be the manL2
And well he therefore does and well has guessedY
Who in his age has always forward pressedY
And knowing not where heaven's choice may lightY
Girds yet his sword and ready stand to fightY
But men alas as if they nothing caredY
Look on all unconcerned or unpreparedY
And stars still fall and still the dragon's tailM2
Swinges the volumes of its horrid flailM2
For the great justice that did first suspendY
The world by sin does by the same extendY
Hence that blest day still counterpos d wastesA
The ill delaying what the elected hastesA
Hence landing nature to new seas is tossedY
And good designs still with their authors lostY
-
And thou great Cromwell for whose happy birthN2
A mould was chosen out of better earthN2
Whose saint like mother we did lately seeA
Live out an age long as a pedigreeA
That she might seem could we the Fall disputeY
T' have smelled the blossom and not eat the fruitY
Though none does of more lasting parents growO2
Yet never any did them honour soO2
Though thou thine heart from evil still unstainedY
And always hast thy tongue from fraud refrainedY
Thou who so oft through storms of thundering leadY
Hast born securely thine undaunted headY
Thy breast through poniarding conspiraciesA
Drawn from the sheath of lying propheciesA
Thee proof behond all other force or skillK2
Our sins endanger and shall one day killK2
-
How near they failed and in thy sudden fallD2
At once assayedY

Andrew Marvell



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