All Is Vanity Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCCBDDEFFCGHHGIJIJKL MDDM A NHHOPPHHQQFRRFHHHHHS SHHIHTTHIMUUMHHDDVW A XXHYYUHUHHZA2A2ZWWB2 B2HHHHC2WWC2D2D2HHHE 2E2XXHHF2G2TF2EUH2E A2 EHHEHHHHWWHHHHHHHHHI 2J2HHEEK2K2EHHHHEL2W WHHHEEM2M2HHHHFFHHB2 B2HFF L2 UDDUED2D2EJEEJJA2A2H IID2

IA
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How vain is Life which rightly we compareB
To flying Posts that haste awayC
To Plants that fade with the declining DayC
To Clouds that sail amidst the yielding AirB
Till by Extention into that they flowD
Or scatt'ring on the World belowD
Are lost and gone ere we can say they wereE
To Autumn leaves which every Wind can chaceF
To rising Bubbles on the Waters FaceF
To fleeting Dreams that will not stayC
Nor in th' abused Fancy danceG
When the returning Rays of LightH
Resuming their alternate RightH
Break on th' ill order'd Scene on the fantastick TranceG
As weak is Man whilst Tenant to the EarthI
As frail and as uncertain all his WaysJ
From the first moment of his weeping BirthI
Down to the last and best of his few restless DaysJ
When to the Land of Darkness he retiresK
From disappointed Hopes and frustrated DesiresL
Reaping no other Fruit of all his PainM
Bestow'd whilst in the vale of Tears belowD
But this unhappy Truth at last to knowD
That Vanity's our Lot and all Mankind is VainM
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IIA
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If past the hazard of his tendrest YearsN
Neither in thoughtless Sleep opprestH
Nor poison'd with a tainted BreastH
Loos'd from the infant Bands and female CaresO
A studious Boy advanc'd beyond his AgeP
Wastes the dim Lamp and turns the restless PageP
For some lov'd Book prevents the rising DayH
And on it stoln aside bestows the Hours of PlayH
Him the observing Master do's designQ
For search of darkned Truths and Mysteries DivineQ
Bids him with unremitted Labour traceF
The Rise of Empires and their various FatesR
The several Tyrants o'er the several StatesR
To Babel's lofty Towers and warlike Nimrod's RaceF
Bids him in Paradice the Bank surveyH
Where Man new moulded from the temper'd ClayH
Till fir'd with Breath Divine a helpless Figure layH
Could he be led thus far What were the BoastH
What the Reward of all the Toil it costH
What from that Land of ever blooming SpringS
For our Instruction could he bringS
Unless that having Humane Nature foundH
Unseparated from its Parent GroundH
Howe'er we vaunt our Elevated BirthI
The Epicure in soft ArrayH
The lothsome Beggar that beforeT
His rude unhospitable DoorT
Unpity'd but by Brutes a broken Carcass layH
Were both alike deriv'd from the same common EarthI
But ere the Child can to these Heights attainM
Ere he can in the Learned Sphere ariseU
A guilding Star attracting to the SkiesU
A fever seizing the o'er labour'd BrainM
Sends him perhaps to Death's concealing ShadeH
Where in the Marble Tomb now silent laidH
He better do's that useful Doctrine showD
Which all the sad Assistants ought to knowD
Who round the Grave his short continuance mournV
That first from Dust we came and must to Dust returnW
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IIIA
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A bolder Youth grown capable of ArmsX
Bellona courts with her prevailing CharmsX
Bids th' inchanting Trumpet soundH
Loud as Triumph soft as LoveY
Striking now the Poles aboveY
Then descending from the SkiesU
Soften every falling NoteH
As the harmonious Lark that sings and fliesU
When near the Earth contracts her narrow ThroatH
And warbles on the GroundH
Shews the proud Steed impatient of the CheckZ
'Gainst the loudest Terrors ProofA2
Pawing the Valley with his steeled HoofA2
With Lightning arm'd his Eyes with Thunder cloth'd his NeckZ
Who on the th' advanced Foe the Signal giv'nW
Flies like a rushing Storm by mighty Whirlwinds driv'nW
Lays open the Records of FameB2
No glorious Deed omits no Man of mighty NameB2
Their Stratagems their Tempers she'll repeatH
From Alexander's truly stil'd the GREATH
From C sar's on the World's Imperial SeatH
To Turenne's Conduct and to Conde's HeatH
'Tis done and now th' ambitious Youth disdainsC2
The safe but harder Labours of the GownW
The softer pleasures of the Courtly TownW
The once lov'd rural Sports and Chaces on the PlainsC2
Does with the Soldier's Life the Garb assumeD2
The gold Embroid'ries and the graceful PlumeD2
Walks haughty in a Coat of Scarlet DieH
A Colour well contriv'd to cheat the EyeH
Where richer Blood alas may undistinguisht lyeH
And oh too near that wretched Fate attendsE2
Hear it ye Parents all ye weeping FriendsE2
Thou fonder Maid won by these gaudy CharmsX
The destin'd Prize of his Victorious ArmsX
Now fainting Dye upon the mournful SoundH
That speaks his hasty Death and paints the fatal WoundH
Trail all your Pikes dispirit every DrumF2
March in a slow Procession from afarG2
Ye silent ye dejected Men of WarT
Be still the Hautboys and the Flute be dumbF2
Display no more in vain the lofty BannerE
For see where on the Bier before ye liesU
The pale the fall'n th' untimely SacrificeH2
To your mistaken Shrine to your false Idol HonourE
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IVA2
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As Vain is Beauty and as short her PowerE
Tho' in its proud and transitory SwayH
The coldest Hearts and wisest Heads obeyH
That gay fantastick Tyrant of an HourE
On Beauty's Charms altho' a Father's RightH
Tho' grave Seleucus to thy Royal SideH
By holy Vows fair Stratonice be ty'dH
With anxious Joy with dangerous DelightH
Too often gazes thy unwary SonW
Till past all Hopes expiring and undoneW
A speaking Pulse the secret Cause impartH
The only time when the Physician's ArtH
Could ease that lab'ring Grief or heal a Lover's SmartH
See Great Antonius now impatient standH
Expecting with mistaken PrideH
On Cydnus crowded Shore on Cydnus fatal StrandH
A Queen at his Tribunal to be try'dH
A Queen that arm'd in Beauty shall derideH
His feeble Rage and his whole Fate commandH
O'er the still Waves her burnisht Galley movesI2
Row'd by the Graces whilst officious LovesJ2
To silken Cords their busie Hands applyH
Or gathering all the gentle Gales that flyH
To their fair Mistress with these Spoils repairE
And from their purple Wings disperse the balmy AirE
Hov'ring Perfumes ascend in od'rous CloudsK2
Curl o'er the Barque and play among the ShroudsK2
Whilst gently dashing every Silver OarE
Guided by the Rules of ArtH
With tuneful Instruments design'dH
To soften and subdue the stubborn MindH
A strangely pleasing and harmonious PartH
In equal Measures boreE
Like a new Venus on her native SeaL2
In midst of the transporting SceneW
Which Pen or Pencil imitates in vainW
On a resplendent and conspicuous BedH
With all the Pride of Persia loosely spreadH
The lovely Syrene layH
Which but discern'd from the yet distant ShoreE
Th' amazed Emperor could hate no moreE
No more a baffled Vengeance could pursueM2
But yielding still still as she nearer drewM2
When Cleopatra anchor'd in the BayH
Where every Charm cou'd all its Force displayH
Like his own Statue stood and gaz'd the World awayH
Where ends alas this Pageantry and StateH
Where end the Triumphs of this conqu'ring FaceF
Envy'd of Roman Wives and all the Female RaceF
Oh swift Vicissitude of Beauty's FateH
Now in her Tomb withdrawn from publick SightH
From near Captivity and ShameB2
The vanquish'd the abandon'd DameB2
Proffers the Arm that held another's RightH
To the destructive Snake's more just EmbraceF
And courts deforming Death to mend his Leaden PaceF
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VL2
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But Wit shall last the vaunting Poet criesU
Th' immortal Streams that from Parnassus flowD
Shall make his never fading Lawrels growD
Above this mouldring Earth to flourish in the SkiesU
'And when his Body falls in Funeral FireE
When late revolving Ages shall consumeD2
The very Pillars that support his TombD2
'His name shall live and his best Part aspireE
Deluded Wretch grasping at future PraiseJ
Now planting with mistaken CareE
Round thy enchanted Palace in the AirE
A Grove which in thy Fancy time shall raiseJ
A Grove of soaring Palms and everlasting BaysJ
Could'st Thou alas to such Reknown arriveA2
As thy Imagination wou'd contriveA2
Should numerous Cities in a vain contestH
Struggle for thy famous BirthI
Should the sole Monarch of the conquer'd EarthI
His wreathed Head upon thy VolumeD2

Anne Kingsmill Finch



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