Ad Comitissam Rutlandiæ Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDEFFGGHHCIJKAA LMCCNNOPAAQQRRSSTTAA UUVVWWOOAASSSSXXYZYZ A2B2C2C2AAD2D2| Madam so may my verses pleasing be | A |
| So may you laugh at them and not at me | A |
| 'Tis something to you gladly I would say | B |
| But how to do't I cannot find the way | B |
| I would avoid the common beaten ways | C |
| To women used which are love or praise | C |
| As for the first the little wit I have | D |
| Is not yet grown so near unto the grave | E |
| But that I can by that dim fading light | F |
| Perceive of what or unto whom I write | F |
| Let such as in a hopeless witless rage | G |
| Can sigh a quire and read it to a page | G |
| Such is do backs of books and windows fill | H |
| With their too furious diamond or quill | H |
| Such as were well resolved to end their days | C |
| With a loud laughter blown beyond the seas | I |
| Who are so mortified that they can live | J |
| Contemned of all the world and yet forgive | K |
| Write love to you I would not willingly | A |
| Be pointed at in every company | A |
| As was that little tailor who till death | L |
| Was hot in love with Queen Elizabeth | M |
| And for the last in all my idle days | C |
| I never yet did living woman praise | C |
| In prose or verse and when I do begin | N |
| I'll pick some woman out as full of sin | N |
| As you are full of virtue with a soul | O |
| As black as you are white a face as foul | P |
| As you are beautiful for it shall be | A |
| Out of the rules of physiognomy | A |
| So far that I do fear I must displace | Q |
| The art a little to let in her face | Q |
| It shall att least four faces be below | R |
| The devil's and her parched corpse shall show | R |
| In her loose skill as if some sprite she were | S |
| Kept in a bag by some great conjurer | S |
| Her breath shall be as horrible and wild | T |
| As every word you speak is sweet and mild | T |
| It shall be such a one as will not be | A |
| Covered with any art or policy | A |
| But let her take all powders fumes and drink | U |
| She shall make nothing but a dearer stink | U |
| She shall have such a foot and such a nose | V |
| She shall not stand in anything but prose | V |
| If I bestow my praises upon such | W |
| 'Tis charity and I shall merit much | W |
| My praise will come to her like a full bowl | O |
| Bestowed at most need on a thirsty soul | O |
| Where if I sing your praises in my rhyme | A |
| I lose my ink my paper and my time | A |
| And nothing add to your o'erflowing store | S |
| And tell you nought but what you knew before | S |
| Nor do the virtuous minded which I swear | S |
| Madam I think you are endure to hear | S |
| Their own perfections into questions brought | X |
| But stop their ears at them for if I thought | X |
| You took a pride to have your virtues known | Y |
| Pardon me madam I should think them none | Z |
| To what a length is this strange letter grown | Y |
| In seeking of a subject yet finds none | Z |
| But your brave thoughts which I so much respect | A2 |
| Above your glorious titles shall accept | B2 |
| These harsh disordered lines I shall ere long | C2 |
| Dress up your virtues new in a new song | C2 |
| Yet far from all base praise and flattery | A |
| Although I know whate'er my verses be | A |
| They will like the most servile flattery shew | D2 |
| If I write truth and make the subject you | D2 |
Francis Beaumont
(1)
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