A Poem On The Last Day - Book Iii Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDEEFFGGHHII JJKKEEHHLMNN OOPPOOFF NNOO QQRRSSTUVVWWNN VVXYZZA2A2B2B2OOOO EEC2C2B2B2OO OONN VVOOCCC2C2OO EEOOOOOOO D2D2E2E2OOF2F2OOD2D2 G2S VVOONNCCOO H2H2OOC2C2OO EI2CCF2F2C2C2E2E2ZZ F2J2K2K2OORROOB2B2 OOC2C2L2L2M2M2 N2N2OOO2O2 P2P2C2C2D2D2Q2R2RROO

The book unfolding the resplendent seatA
Of saints and angels the tremendous fateB
Of guilty souls the gloomy realms of woeC
And all the horrors of the world belowC
I next presume to sing What yet remainsD
Demands my last but most exalted strainsD
And let the Muse or now affect the skyE
Or in inglorious shades for ever lieE
She kindles she's inflamed so near the goalF
She mounts she gains upon the starry poleF
The world grows less as she pursues her flightG
And the sun darkens to her distant sightG
Heaven opening all its sacred pomp displaysH
And overwhelms her with the rushing blazeH
The triumph rings archangels shout aroundI
And echoing Nature lengthens out the soundI
-
Ten thousand trumpets now at once advanceJ
Now deepest silence lulls the vast expanseJ
So deep the silence and so strong the blastK
As Nature died when she had groan'd her lastK
Nor man nor angel moves the Judge on highE
Looks round and with His glory fills the skyE
Then on the fatal book His hand He laysH
Which high to view supporting seraphs raiseH
In solemn form the rituals are preparedL
The seal is broken and a groan is heardM
And thou my soul O fall to sudden prayerN
And let the thought sink deep shalt thou be thereN
-
See on the left for by the great commandO
The throng divided falls on either handO
How weak how pale how haggard how obsceneP
What more than death in every face and mienP
With what distress and glarings of affrightO
They shock the heart and turn away the sightO
In gloomy orbs their trembling eye balls rollF
And tell the horrid secrets of the soulF
-
Each gesture mourns each look is black with careN
And every groan is loaden with despairN
Reader if guilty spare the Muse and findO
A truer image pictured in thy mindO
-
-
Shouldst thou behold thy brother father wifeQ
And all the soft companions of thy lifeQ
Whose blended interests levell'd at one aimR
Whose mix'd desires sent up one common flameR
Divided far thy wretched self aloneS
Cast on the left of all whom thou hast knownS
How would it wound What millions wouldst thou giveT
For one more trial one day more to liveU
Flung back in time an hour a moment's spaceV
To grasp with eagerness the means of graceV
Contend for mercy with a pious rageW
And in that moment to redeem an ageW
Drive back the tide suspend a storm in airN
Arrest the sun but still of this despairN
-
Mark on the right how amiable a graceV
Their Maker's image fresh in every faceV
What purple bloom my ravish'd soul admiresX
And their eyes sparkling with immortal firesY
Triumphant beauty charms that rise aboveZ
This world and in bless'd angels kindle loveZ
To the great Judge with holy pride they turnA2
And dare behold the' Almighty's anger burnA2
Its flash sustain against its terror riseB2
And on the dread tribunal fix their eyesB2
Are these the forms that moulder'd in the dustO
O the transcendent glory of the justO
Yet still some thin remains of fear and doubtO
The' infected brightness of their joy polluteO
-
Thus the chaste bridegroom when the priest draws nighE
Beholds his blessing with a trembling eyeE
Feels doubtful passions throb in every veinC2
And in his cheeks are mingled joy and painC2
Lest still some intervening chance should riseB2
Leap forth at once and snatch the golden prizeB2
Inflame his woe by bringing it so lateO
And stab him in the crisis of his fateO
-
Since Adam's family from first to lastO
Now into one distinct survey is castO
Look round vain glorious Muse and you whoe'erN
Devote yourselves to Fame and think her fairN
-
Look round and seek the lights of human raceV
Whose shining acts Time's brightest annals graceV
Who founded sects crowns conquer'd or resign'dO
Gave names to nations or famed empires join'dO
Who raised the vale and laid the mountain lowC
And taught obedient rivers where to flowC
Who with vast fleets as with a mighty chainC2
Could bind the madness of the roaring mainC2
All lost all undistinguish'd nowhere foundO
How will this truth in Bourbon's palace soundO
-
That hour on which the' Almighty King on highE
From all eternity has fix'd His eyeE
Whether His right hand favour'd or annoy'dO
Continued alter'd threaten'd or destroy'dO
Southern or eastern sceptre downward hurl'dO
Gave north or west dominion o'er the worldO
The point of time for which the world was builtO
For which the blood of God Himself was spiltO
That dreadful moment is arrivedO
-
Aloft the seats of bliss their pomp displayD2
Brighter than brightness this distinguish'd dayD2
Less glorious when of old the' eternal SonE2
From realms of night return'd with trophies wonE2
Through heaven's high gates when He triumphant rodeO
And shouting angels hail'd the victor GodO
Horrors beneath darkness in darkness hellF2
Of hell where torments behind torments dwellF2
A furnace formidable deep and wideO
O'er boiling with a mad sulphureous tideO
Expands its jaws most dreadful to surveyD2
And roars outrageous for the destined preyD2
The sons of light scarce unappall'd look downG2
And nearer press Heaven's everlasting throneS
-
Such is the scene and one short moment's spaceV
Concludes the hopes and fears of human raceV
Proceed who dares I tremble as I writeO
The whole creation swims before my sightO
I see I see the Judge's frowning browN
Say not 'tis distant I behold it nowN
I faint my tardy blood forgets to flowC
My soul recoils at the stupendous woeC
That woe those pangs which from the guilty breastO
In these or words like these shall be express'dO
-
Who burst the barriers of my peaceful graveH2
Ah cruel Death that would no longer saveH2
But grudged me e'en that narrow dark abodeO
And cast me out into the wrath of GodO
Where shrieks the roaring flame the rattling chainC2
And all the dreadful eloquence of painC2
Our only song black fire's malignant lightO
The sole refreshment of the blasted sightO
-
Must all those powers Heaven gave me to supplyE
My soul with pleasure and bring in my joyI2
Rise up in arms against me join the foeC
Sense Reason Memory increase my woeC
And shall my voice ordain'd on hymns to dwellF2
Corrupt to groans and blow the fires of hellF2
O must I look with terror on my gainC2
And with existence only measure painC2
What no reprieve no least indulgence givenE2
No beam of hope from any point of heavenE2
Ah Mercy Mercy art thou dead aboveZ
Is love extinguish'd in the Source of LoveZ
-
Bold that I am did Heaven stoop down to hellF2
The' expiring Lord of Life my ransom sealJ2
Have not I been industrious to provokeK2
From His embraces obstinately brokeK2
Pursued and panted for His mortal hateO
Earn'd my destruction labour'd out my fateO
And dare I on extinguish'd love exclaimR
Take take full vengeance rouse the slackening flameR
Just is my lot but O must it transcendO
The reach of time despair a distant endO
With dreadful growth shoot forward and ariseB2
Where Thought can't follow and bold Fancy diesB2
-
NEVER Where falls the soul at that dread soundO
Down an abyss how dark and how profoundO
Down down I still am falling horrid painC2
Ten thousand thousand fathoms still remainC2
My plunge but still begun And this for sinL2
Could I offend if I had never beenL2
But still increased the senseless happy massM2
Flow'd in the stream or shiver'd in the grassM2
-
Father of Mercies why from silent earthN2
Didst Thou awake and curse me into birthN2
Tear me from quiet ravish me from nightO
And make a thankless present of Thy lightO
Push into being a reverse of TheeO2
And animate a clod with miseryO2
-
The beasts are happy they come forth and keepP2
Short watch on earth and then lie down to sleepP2
Pain is for man and O how vast a painC2
For crimes which made the Godhead bleed in vainC2
Annull'd His groans as far as in them layD2
And flung His agonies and death awayD2
As our dire punishment for ever strongQ2
Our constitution too for ever youngR2
Cursed with returns of vigour still the sameR
Powerful to bear and satisfy the flameR
Still to be caught and still to be pursuedO
To perish still and still to be renew'dO
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-

Edward Young



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