The Last Day. Book Iii Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABC C CCDDAAEEFFCCAACCAACC EEAACCGHCCIICCFFHHCC JJKKLLMNAAOOHHAAAAPP QQAACCCCEERRAACCCCHH AACCDDRRCCEECCCCCCCS STTCCUUCCSSVLAACCHHD DCCWWCCRRCCEXDDUURRT TPPUYZZCCKKCCAACCRRA 2A2AAB2B2CCBBC2C2RRS SD2E2KKCCBBAAHHKKDDS SOOKKF2F2AACCSSHHFG2 AARRHHCCH2PEEAAI2I2J 2J2AARRCCK2KL2M2N2N2 HHZZCCAAEECCO2O2AAZP 2UUCCCCN2N2AACCAACCH HDDCCAAKKHHSSF2IHHHH FFAACCQ2Q2AAEECCCCCC CCCCR2B2KKCCCCEESS

Esse quoque in fatis reminiscitur affore tempusA
Quo mare quo tellus correptaque regia c liB
Ardeat et mundi moles operosa laboretC
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OVID METC
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The book unfolding the resplendent seatC
Of saints and angels the tremendous fateC
Of guilty souls the gloomy realms of woeD
And all the horrors of the world belowD
I next presume to sing what yet remainsA
Demands my last but most exalted strainsA
And let the muse or now affect the skyE
Or in inglorious shades for ever lieE
She kindles she's inflam'd so near the goalF
She mounts she gains upon the starry poleF
The world grows less as she pursues her flightC
And the sun darkens to her distant sightC
Heaven op'ning all its sacred pomp displaysA
And overwhelms her with the rushing blazeA
The triumph rings archangels shout aroundC
And echoing nature lengthens out the soundC
Ten thousand trumpets now at once advanceA
Now deepest silence lulls the vast expanseA
So deep the silence and so strong the blastC
As nature died when she had groan'd her lastC
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 laysA
Which high to view supporting seraphs raiseA
In solemn form the rituals are prepar'dC
The seal is broken and a groan is heardC
And thou my soul oh fall to sudden pray'rG
And let the thought sink deep shalt thou be thereH
See on the left for by the great commandC
The throng divided falls on either handC
How weak how pale how haggard how obsceneI
What more than death in ev'ry face and mienI
With what distress and glarings of affrightC
They shock the heart and turn away the sightC
In gloomy orbs their trembling eye balls rollF
And tell the horrid secrets of the soulF
Each gesture mourns each look is black with careH
And ev'ry groan is loaden with despairH
Reader if guilty spare the muse and findC
A truer image pictur'd in thy mindC
Shouldst thou behold thy brother father wifeJ
And all the soft companions of thy lifeJ
Whose blended int'rests levell'd at one aimK
Whose mix'd desires sent up one common flameK
Divided far thy wretched self aloneL
Cast on the left of all whom thou hast knownL
How would it wound what millions wouldst thou giveM
For one more trial one more day to liveN
Flung back in time an hour a moment's spaceA
To grasp with eagerness the means of graceA
Contend for mercy with a pious rageO
And in that moment to redeem an ageO
Drive back the tide suspend a storm in airH
Arrest the sun but still of this despairH
Mark on the right how amiable a graceA
Their Maker's image fresh in ev'ry faceA
What purple bloom my ravish'd soul admiresA
And their eyes sparkling with immortal firesA
Triumphant beauty charms that rise aboveP
This world and in blest angels kindle loveP
To the great Judge with holy pride they turnQ
And dare behold th' Almighty's anger burnQ
Its flash sustain against its terror riseA
And on the dread tribunal fix their eyesA
Are these the forms that moulder'd in the dustC
Oh the transcendent glory of the justC
Yet still some thin remains of fear and doubtC
Th' infected brightness of their joy polluteC
Thus the chaste bridegroom when the priest draws nighE
Beholds his blessing with a trembling eyeE
Feels doubtful passions throb in every veinR
And in his cheeks are mingled joy and painR
Lest still some intervening chance should riseA
Leap forth at once and snatch the golden prizeA
Inflame his woe by bringing it so lateC
And stab him in the crisis of his fateC
Since Adam's family from first to lastC
Now into one distinct survey is castC
Look round vainglorious muse and you whoe'erH
Devote yourselves to fame and think her fairH
Look round and seek the lights of human raceA
Whose shining acts time's brightest annals graceA
Who founded sects crowns conquer'd or resign'dC
Gave names to nations or fam'd empires join'dC
Who raised the vale and laid the mountain lowD
And taught obedient rivers where to flowD
Who with vast fleets as with a mighty chainR
Could bind the madness of the roaring mainR
All lost all undistinguish'd nowhere foundC
How will this truth in Bourbon's palace soundC
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'dC
Continu'd alter'd threaten'd or destroy'dC
Southern or eastern sceptre downward hurl'dC
Gave north or west dominion o'er the worldC
The point of time for which the world was builtC
For which the blood of God himself was spiltC
That dreadful moment is arriv'dC
Aloft the seats of bliss their pomp displayS
Brighter than brightness this distinguish'd dayS
Less glorious when of old th' eternal SonT
From realms of night return'd with trophies wonT
Thro' heaven's high gates when he triumphant rodeC
And shouting angels hail'd the victor GodC
Horrors beneath darkness in darkness hellU
Of hell where torments behind torments dwellU
A furnace formidable deep and wideC
O'erboiling with a mad sulphureous tideC
Expands its jaws most dreadful to surveyS
And roars outrageous for the destin'd preyS
The sons of light scarce unappall'd look downV
And nearer press heaven's everlasting throneL
Such is the scene and one short moment's spaceA
Concludes the hopes and fears of human raceA
Proceed who dares I tremble as I writeC
The whole creation swims before my sightC
I see I see the Judge's frowning browH
Say not 'tis distant I behold it nowH
I faint my tardy blood forgets to flowD
My soul recoils at the stupendous woeD
That woe those pangs which from the guilty breastC
In these or words like these shall be exprestC
Who burst the barriers of my peaceful graveW
Ah cruel death that would no longer saveW
But grudg'd me e'en that narrow dark abodeC
And cast me out into the wrath of GodC
Where shrieks the roaring flame the rattling chainR
And all the dreadful eloquence of painR
Our only song black fire's malignant lightC
The sole refreshment of the blasted sightC
Must all those pow'rs heaven gave me to supplyE
My soul with pleasure and bring in my joyX
Rise up in arms against me join the foeD
Sense reason memory increase my woeD
And shall my voice ordain'd on hymns to dwellU
Corrupt to groans and blow the fires of hellU
Oh must I look with terror on my gainR
And with existence only measure painR
What no reprieve no least indulgence givenT
No beam of hope from any point of heavenT
Ah mercy mercy art thou dead aboveP
Is love extinguish'd in the source of loveP
Bold that I am did heaven stoop down to hellU
Th' expiring Lord of life my ransom sealY
Have I not been industrious to provokeZ
From his embraces obstinately brokeZ
Pursu'd and panted for his mortal hateC
Earn'd my destruction labour'd out my fateC
And dare I on extinguish'd love exclaimK
Take take full vengeance rouse the slack'ning flameK
Just is my lot but oh must it transcendC
The reach of time despair a distant endC
With dreadful growth shoot forward and ariseA
Where thought can't follow and bold fancy diesA
Never where falls the soul at that dread soundC
Down an abyss how dark and how profoundC
Down down I still am falling horrid painR
Ten thousand thousand fathoms still remainR
My plunge but still begun And this for sinA2
Could I offend if I had never beenA2
But still increas'd the senseless happy massA
Flow'd in the stream or shiver'd in the grassA
Father of mercies why from silent earthB2
Didst thou awake and curse me into birthB2
Tear me from quiet ravish me from nightC
And make a thankless present of thy lightC
Push into being a reverse of theeB
And animate a clod with miseryB
The beasts are happy they come forth and keepC2
Short watch on earth and then lie down to sleepC2
Pain is for man and oh how vast a painR
For crimes which made the Godhead bleed in vainR
Annull'd his groans as far as in them layS
And flung his agonies and death awayS
As our dire punishment for ever strongD2
Our constitution too for ever youngE2
Curs'd with returns of vigour still the sameK
Powerful to bear and satisfy the flameK
Still to be caught and still to be pursu'dC
To perish still and still to be renew'dC
And this my help my God at thy decreeB
Nature is chang'd and hell should succour meB
And canst thou then look down from perfect blissA
And see me plunging in the dark abyssA
Calling thee Father in a sea of fireH
Or pouring blasphemies at thy desireH
With mortals' anguish wilt thou raise thy nameK
And by my pangs omnipotence proclaimK
Thou who canst toss the planets to and froD
Contract not thy great vengeance to my woeD
Crush worlds in hotter flames fall'n angels layS
On me Almighty wrath is cast awayS
Call back thy thunders Lord hold in thy rageO
Nor with a speck of wretchedness engageO
Forget me quite nor stoop a worm to blameK
But lose me in the greatness of thy nameK
Thou art all love all mercy all divineF2
And shall I make these glories cease to shineF2
Shall sinful man grow great by his offenceA
And from its course turn back OmnipotenceA
Forbid it and oh grant great God at leastC
This one this slender almost no requestC
When I have wept a thousand lives awayS
When torment is grown weary of its preyS
When I have rav'd ten thousand years in fireH
Ten thousand thousand let me then expireH
Deep anguish but too late the hopeless soulF
Bound to the bottom of the burning poolG2
Though loth and ever loud blaspheming ownsA
He's justly doom'd to pour eternal groansA
Enclos'd with horrors and transfix'd with painR
Rolling in vengeance struggling with his chainR
To talk to fiery tempests to imploreH
The raging flame to give its burnings o'erH
To toss to writhe to pant beneath his loadC
And bear the weight of an offended GodC
The favour'd of their Judge in triumph moveH2
To take possession of their thrones aboveP
Satan's accurs'd desertion to supplyE
And fill the vacant stations of the skyE
Again to kindle long extinguish'd raysA
And with new lights dilate the heavenly blazeA
To crop the roses of immortal youthI2
And drink the fountain head of sacred truthI2
To swim in seas of bliss to strike the stringJ2
And lift the voice to their Almighty KingJ2
To lose eternity in grateful laysA
And fill heaven's wide circumference with praiseA
But I attempt the wondrous height in vainR
And leave unfinish'd the too lofty strainR
What boldly I begin let others endC
My strength exhausted fainting I descendC
And choose a less but no ignoble themeK2
Dissolving elements and worlds in flameK
The fatal period the great hour is comeL2
And nature shrinks at her approaching doomM2
Loud peals of thunder give the sign and allN2
Heaven's terrors in array surround the ballN2
Sharp lightnings with the meteor's blaze conspireH
And darted downward set the world on fireH
Black rising clouds the thicken'd ether chokeZ
And spiry flames dart through the rolling smokeZ
With keen vibrations cut the sullen nightC
And strike the darken'd sky with dreadful lightC
From heaven's four regions with immortal forceA
Angels drive on the wind's impetuous courseA
T' enrage the flame It spreads it soars on highE
Swells in the storm and billows through the skyE
Here winding pyramids of fire ascendC
Cities and deserts in one ruin blendC
Here blazing volumes wafted overwhelmO2
The spacious face of a far distant realmO2
There undermin'd down rush eternal hillsA
The neighb'ring vales the vast destruction fillsA
Hear'st thou that dreadful crack that sound which brokeZ
Like peals of thunder and the centre shookP2
What wonders must that groan of nature tellU
Olympus there and mightier Atlas fellU
Which seem'd above the reach of fate to standC
A tow'ring monument of God's right handC
Now dust and smoke whose brow so lately spreadC
O'er shelter'd countries its diffusive shadeC
Show me that celebrated spot where allN2
The various rulers of the sever'd ballN2
Have humbly sought wealth honour and redressA
That land which heaven seem'd diligent to blessA
Once call'd Britannia can her glories endC
And can't surrounding seas her realms defendC
Alas in flames behold surrounding seasA
Like oil their waters but augment the blazeA
Some angel say where ran proud Asia's boundC
Or where with fruits was fair Europa crown'dC
Where stretch'd waste Lybia Where did India's shoreH
Sparkle in diamonds and her golden oreH
Each lost in each their mingling kingdoms glowD
And all dissolv'd one fiery deluge flowD
Thus earth's contending monarchies are join'dC
And a full period of ambition findC
And now whate'er or swims or walks or fliesA
Inhabitants of sea or earth or skiesA
All on whom Adam's wisdom fix'd a nameK
All plunge and perish in the conquering flameK
This globe alone would but defraud the fireH
Starve its devouring rage the flakes aspireH
And catch the clouds and make the heavens their preyS
The sun the moon the stars all melt awayS
All all is lost no monument no signF2
Where once so proudly blaz'd the gay machineI
So bubbles on the foaming stream expireH
So sparks that scatter from the kindling fireH
The devastations of one dreadful hourH
The great Creator's six days' work devourH
A mighty mighty ruin yet one soulF
Has more to boast and far outweighs the wholeF
Exalted in superior excellenceA
Casts down to nothing such a vast expenseA
Have you not seen th' eternal mountains nodC
An earth dissolving a descending GodC
What strange surprises through all nature ranQ2
For whom these revolutions but for manQ2
For him Omnipotence new measures takesA
For him through all eternity awakesA
Pours on him gifts sufficient to supplyE
Heaven's loss and with fresh glories fill the skyE
Think deeply then O man how great thou artC
Pay thyself homage with a trembling heartC
What angels guard no longer dare neglectC
Slighting thyself affront not God's respectC
Enter the sacred temple of thy breastC
And gaze and wander there a ravish'd guestC
Gaze on those hidden treasures thou shalt findC
Wander through all the glories of thy mindC
Of perfect knowledge see the dawning lightC
Foretells a noon most exquisitely brightC
Here springs of endless joy are breaking forthR2
There buds the promise of celestial worthB2
Worth which must ripen in a happier climeK
And brighter sun beyond the bounds of timeK
Thou minor canst not guess thy vast estateC
What stores on foreign coasts thy landing waitC
Lose not thy claim let virtue's path be trodC
Thus glad all heaven and please that bounteous GodC
Who to light thee to pleasures hung on highE
Yon radiant orb proud regent of the skyE
That service done its beams shall fade awayS
And God shine forth in one eternal dayS

Edward Young



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