Tom May's Death Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDEFFGHIIJJKLMMNN OOPPQRSNTTLUVWXXYYOO ZA2B2B2OOB2B2C2C2BBF FB2B2BBD2D2BBB2B2BBE 2E2BBB2B2BBB2B2B2B2B 2B2FFQF2BBB2B2OOG2G2 H2H2OOB2B2I2I2| As one put drunk into the Packet boat | A |
| Tom May was hurry'd hence and did not know't | B |
| But was amaz'd on the Elysian side | C |
| And with an Eye uncertain gazing wide | C |
| Could not determine in what place he was | D |
| For whence in Stevens ally Trees or Grass | E |
| Nor where the Popes head nor the Mitre lay | F |
| Signs by which still he found and lost his way | F |
| At last while doubtfully he all compares | G |
| He saw near hand as he imagin'd Ares | H |
| Such did he seem for corpulence and port | I |
| But 'twas a man much of another sort | I |
| 'Twas Ben that in the dusky Laurel shade | J |
| Amongst the Chorus of old Poets laid | J |
| Sounding of ancient Heroes such as were | K |
| The Subjects Safety and the Rebel's Fear | L |
| But how a double headed Vulture Eats | M |
| Brutus and Cassius the Peoples cheats | M |
| But seeing May he varied streight his song | N |
| Gently to signifie that he was wrong | N |
| Cups more then civil of Emilthian wine | O |
| I sing said he and the Pharsalian Sign | O |
| Where the Historian of the Common wealth | P |
| In his own Bowels sheath'd the conquering health | P |
| By this May to himself and them was come | Q |
| He found he was tranflated and by whom | R |
| Yet then with foot as stumbling as his tongue | S |
| Prest for his place among the Learned throng | N |
| But Ben who knew not neither foe nor friend | T |
| Sworn Enemy to all that do pretend | T |
| Rose more then ever he was seen severe | L |
| Shook his gray locks and his own Bayes did tear | U |
| At this intrusion Then with Laurel wand | V |
| The awful Sign of his supream command | W |
| At whose dread Whisk Virgil himself does quake | X |
| And Horace patiently its stroke does take | X |
| As he crowds in he whipt him ore the pate | Y |
| Like Pembroke at the Masque and then did rate | Y |
| Far from these blessed shades tread back agen | O |
| Most servil' wit and Mercenary Pen | O |
| Polydore Lucan Allan Vandale Goth | Z |
| Malignant Poet and Historian both | A2 |
| Go seek the novice Statesmen and obtrude | B2 |
| On them some Romane cast similitude | B2 |
| Tell them of Liberty the Stories fine | O |
| Until you all grow Consuls in your wine | O |
| Or thou Dictator of the glass bestow | B2 |
| On him the Cato this the Cicero | B2 |
| Transferring old Rome hither in your talk | C2 |
| As Bethlem's House did to Loretto walk | C2 |
| Foul Architect that hadst not Eye to see | B |
| How ill the measures of these States agree | B |
| And who by Romes example England lay | F |
| Those but to Lucan do continue May | F |
| But the nor Ignorance nor seeming good | B2 |
| Misled but malice fixt and understood | B2 |
| Because some one than thee more worthy weares | B |
| The sacred Laurel hence are all these teares | B |
| Must therefore all the World be set on flame | D2 |
| Because a Gazet writer mist his aim | D2 |
| And for a Tankard bearing Muse must we | B |
| As for the Basket Guelphs and Gibellines be | B |
| When the Sword glitters ore the Judges head | B2 |
| And fear has Coward Churchmen silenced | B2 |
| Then is the Poets time 'tis then he drawes | B |
| And single fights forsaken Vertues cause | B |
| He when the wheel of Empire whirleth back | E2 |
| And though the World disjointed Axel crack | E2 |
| Sings still of ancient Rights and better Times | B |
| Seeks wretched good arraigns successful Crimes | B |
| But thou base man first prostituted hast | B2 |
| Our spotless knowledge and the studies chast | B2 |
| Apostatizing from our Arts and us | B |
| To turn the Chronicler to Spartacus | B |
| Yet wast thou taken hence with equal fate | B2 |
| Before thou couldst great Charles his death relate | B2 |
| But what will deeper wound thy little mind | B2 |
| Hast left surviving Davenant still behind | B2 |
| Who laughs to see in this thy death renew'd | B2 |
| Right Romane poverty and gratitude | B2 |
| Poor Poet thou and grateful Senate they | F |
| Who thy last Reckoning did so largely pay | F |
| And with the publick gravity would come | Q |
| When thou hadst drunk thy last to lead thee home | F2 |
| If that can be thy home where Spencer lyes | B |
| And reverend Chaucer but their dust does rise | B |
| Against thee and expels thee from their side | B2 |
| As th' Eagles Plumes from other birds divide | B2 |
| Nor here thy shade must dwell Return Return | O |
| Where Sulphrey Phlegeton does ever burn | O |
| The Cerberus with all his Jawes shall gnash | G2 |
| Megera thee with all her Serpents lash | G2 |
| Thou rivited unto Ixion's wheel | H2 |
| Shalt break and the perpetual Vulture feel | H2 |
| 'Tis just what Torments Poets ere did feign | O |
| Thou first Historically shouldst sustain | O |
| Thus by irrevocable Sentence cast | B2 |
| May only Master of these Revels past | B2 |
| And streight he vanisht in a Cloud of Pitch | I2 |
| Such as unto the Sabboth bears the Witch | I2 |
Andrew Marvell
(1)
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About Tom May's Death
Tom May's Death is a poem by Andrew Marvell. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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