The Origin Of Flattery Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCCCCCDDCCEECCFG HHCCIICCBJCCKKLLMM DDNNCCMMOOPPQQRRCCCC SSDTNNTS PUVSSWWVUCCCCXXYY BBCCSSSDDPPZA2DDCCCC SSCCHHCCDDCCSSCCLB2C 2C2

WHEN Jove in anger to the sons of the earthA
Bid artful Vulcan give Pandora birthA
And sent the fatal gift which spread belowB
O'er all the wretched race contagious woeB
Unhappy man by vice and folly tostC
Found in the storms of life his quiet lostC
While Envy Avarice and Ambition hurl'dC
Discord and death around the warring worldC
Then the blest peasant left his fields and foldC
And barter'd love and peace for power and goldC
Left his calm cottage and his native plainD
In search of wealth to tempt the faithless mainD
Or braving danger in the battle stoodC
And bathed his savage hands in human bloodC
No longer then his woodland walks amongE
The shepherd lad his genuine passion sungE
Or sought at early morn his soul's delightC
Or graved her name upon the bark at nightC
To deck her flowing hair no more he woveF
The simple wreath or with ambitious loveG
Bound his own brow with myrtle or with bayH
But broke his pipe or threw his crook awayH
The nymphs forsaken other pleasures soughtC
Then first for gold their venal hearts were boughtC
And nature's blush to sickly art gave placeI
And affectation seized the seat of graceI
No more simplicity by sense refinedC
Or generous sentiment possess'd the mindC
No more they felt each other's joy and woeB
And Cupid fled and hid his useless bowJ
But with deep grief propitious Venus pinedC
To see the ills which threaten'd womankindC
Ills that she knew her empire would disarmK
And rob her subjects of their sweetest charmK
Good humour's potent influence destroyL
And change for lowering frowns the smile of joyL
Then deeply sighing at the mournful viewM
She tried at length what heavenly art could doM
-
To bring back Pleasure to her pensive trainD
And vindicate the glories of her reignD
A thousand little loves attend the taskN
And bear from Mars's head his radiant casqueN
The fair enchantress on its silver boundC
Weaved with soft spells her magic cestus roundC
Then shaking from her hair ambrosial dewM
Infused fair hope and expectation newM
And stifled wishes and persuasive sighsO
And fond belief and 'eloquence of eyesO
And falt'ring accents which explain so wellP
What studied speeches vainly try to tellP
And more pathetic silence which impartsQ
Infectious tenderness to feeling heartsQ
Soft tones of pity fascinating smilesR
And Maia's son assisted her with wilesR
And brought gay dreams fantastic visions broughtC
And waved his wand o'er the seducing draughtC
Then Zephyr came to him the goddess criedC
'Go fetch from Flora all her flowery prideC
To fill my charm each scented bud that blowsS
And bind my myrtles with her thornless roseS
Then speed thy flight to Gallia's smiling plainD
Where rolls the Loire the Garonne and the SeineT
Dip in their waters thy celestial wingN
And the soft dew to fill my chalice bringN
But chiefly tell thy Flora that to meT
She send a bouquet of her fleurs de lysS
That poignant spirit will complete my spell '-
'Tis done the lovely sorceress says 'tis wellP
And now Apollo lends a ray of fireU
The caldron bubbles and the flames aspireV
The watchful Graces round the circle danceS
With arms entwined to mark the work's advanceS
And with full quiver sportive Cupid cameW
Temp'ring his favourite arrows in the flameW
Then Venus speaks the wavering flames retireV
And Zephyr's breath extinguishes the fireU
At length the goddess in the helmet's roundC
A sweet and subtile spirit duly foundC
More soft than oil than ether more refinedC
Of power to cure the woes of womankindC
And call'd it Flattery balm of female lifeX
It charms alike the widow maid and wifeX
Clears the sad brow of virgins in despairY
And smooths the cruel traces left by careY
-
Bids palsied age with youthful spirit glowB
And hangs May's garlands on December's snowB
Delicious essence howsoe'er appliedC
By what rude nature is thy charm deniedC
Some form seducing still thy whisper wearsS
Stern Wisdom turns to thee her willing earsS
And Prudery listens and forgets her fearsS
The rustic nymph whom rigid aunts restrainD
Condemn'd to dress and practise airs in vainD
At thy first summons finds her bosom swellP
And bids her crabbed gouvernantes farewellP
While fired by thee with spirit not her ownZ
She grows a toast and rises into tonA2
The faded beauty who with secret painD
Sees younger charms usurp her envied reignD
By thee assisted can with smiles beholdC
The record where her conquests are enroll'dC
And dwelling yet on scenes by memory nursedC
When George the Second reign'd or George the FirstC
She sees the shades of ancient beaux ariseS
Who swear her eyes exceeded modern eyesS
When poets sung for her and lovers bledC
And giddy fashion follow'd as she ledC
Departed modes appear in long arrayH
The flowers and flounces of her happier dayH
Again her locks the decent fillets bindC
The waving lappet flutters in the windC
And then comparing with a proud disdainD
The more fantastic tastes that now obtainD
She deems ungraceful trifling and absurdC
The gayer world that moves round George the ThirdC
Nor thy soft influence will the train refuseS
Who court in distant shades the modest MuseS
Though in a form more pure and more refinedC
Thy soothing spirit meets the letter'd mindC
Not death itself thine empire can destroyL
Tow'rds thee even then we turn the languid eyeB2
Still trust in thee to bid our memory bloomC2
And scatter roses round the silent tombC2

Charlotte Smith



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