From 'a Feast For Wormes' Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCDD E BCEEEEEEFGHHIIBCJJKL MMNNOOJJHHNNPPNNOONN EEPPOOOO E EE Q EEEOOJJOOEEEEOOMMEEE EJJRJJJEEOONNOONNOOE ENNEEJJEESSEE

The ArgumentA
-
The Ninivites beleeve the wordB
Their hearts retiu'ne mito the LordC
In him they put their onely trustD
They niourne in sackcloth and in dustD
-
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SECTION IXE
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So said the Ninivites beleev'd the wordB
Beleeved Jonas and beleev'd the LordC
They made no pause nor jested at the newesE
Nor slighted it because it was a Jew'sE
Denouncement no nor did their gazing eyesE
As taken captive with such noveltiesE
Admire the stranger's garb so quaint to theirsE
No idle chat possest their itching earesE
The whilst he spake nor were their tongues on fierF
To raile upon or interrupt the cryerG
Nor did they question whether true the messageH
Or fals the prophet were that brought th' embassageH
But they gave faith to what he said relentedI
And changing their miswandred wayes repentedI
Before the searching ayre could coole his wordB
Their hearts returned and beleev'd the LordC
And they whose dainty lips were cloy'd while ereJ
With cates and viands and with wanton cheareJ
Doe now enjoyne their palats not to tasteK
The offal bread for they proclaim'd a fastL
And they wliose looser bodies once did lieM
Wrapt up in robes and silkes of princely dyeM
Loe now instead of robes in rags they mourneN
And all their silks doe into sackcloth turneN
They reade themselves sad lectures on the groundO
Learning to want as well as to aboundO
The prince was not exempted nor the peereJ
Nor yet the richest nor the poorest thereJ
The old man was not freed whose hoary ageH
Had even almost outronne his pilgrimageH
Nor yet the young whose glasse but new begunN
By course of nature had an age to runneN
For when that fatall word came to the kingP
ConvayM with speed upon the nimble wingP
Of flitting fame he straight dismounts his throneN
Forsakes his chaire of state he sate uponN
Disrob'd his body and his head discrown'dO
In dust and ashes grov'ling on the groundO
And when he rear'd his trembling corps againeN
His haire all filthy with the dust he lay inN
He clad in pensive sackcloth did deposeE
Himself from state imperiall and choseE
To live a vassall or a baser thingP
Than to usurpe the scepter of a kingP
Respectlesse of his pompe he quite forgateO
He was a monarch mindelesse of his stateO
He neither sought to rule or be obay'dO
Nor with the sword nor with the scepter sway'dO
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MEDITA IXE
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Is fasting then the thing that God requiresE
Can fasting expiate or slake those firesE
That sinne hath blowne to such a mightie flame '-
Can sackcloth clothe a fault or hide a shameQ
Can ashes cleanse thy blot or purge thy offence '-
Or doe thy hands make heaven a recompenceE
By strowing dust upon thy briny faceE
Are these the tricks to purchase heavenly graceE
No though thou pine thyself with willing wantO
Or face looke thinne or carkas nere so gauntO
Although thou worser weeds than sackcloth weareJ
Or naked goe or sleep in shirts of haireJ
Or though thou chuse an ash tub for thy bedO
Or make a daily dunghill on thy headO
Thy labour is not poys'd with equal gainesE
For thou hast nought but labour for thy painesE
Such holy madnesse God rejects and loathesE
That sinks no deeper than the skin or clothesE
'Tis not thine eyes which taught to weepe by artO
Look red with teares not guilty of thy heartO
'Tis not the holding of thy hands so highM
Nor yet the purer squinting of thine eyeM
'Tis not your mimick mouthes your antick facesE
Your scripture phrases or affected gracesE
Nor prodigall upbanding of thine eyesE
Whose gashfuU bals doe seeme to pelt the skiesE
'Tis not the strickt reforming of your haireJ
So close that all the neighbour skull is bareJ
'Tis not the drooping of thy head so lowR
Nor yet the low'ring of thy sullen browJ
Nor wolvish howling that disturbs the aireJ
Nor repetitions or your tedious prayerJ
No no 'tis none of this that God regardsE
Such sort of fooles their owne applause rewardsE
Such puppet plaies to heaven are strange and quaintO
Their service is unsweet and foully taintO
Their words fall fruitlesse from their idle braineN
But true repentance runnes in other straineN
Where sad contrition harbours there the heartO
Is truely acquainted with the secret smartO
Of past offences hates the bosome sinN
The most which most the soul took pleasure inN
No crime unsifted no sinne unpresentedO
Can lurke unseene and scene none unlamentedO
The trouble soule's amazed witli dire aspectsE
Of lesser sinnes committed and detectsE
The wounded conscience it cries amaineN
For mercy mercy cries and cries againeN
It sadly grieves and soberly lamentsE
It yernes for grace reformes returnes repentsE
I this is incense whose accepted favourJ
Mounts up the heavenly throne and findeth favourJ
I this is it whose valour never failesE
With God it stoutly wrestles and prevailesE
I this is it that pearces heaven aboveS
Never returning home like Noah's doveS
But brings an olive leafe or some increaseE
That workes salvation and etemall peaceE

Francis Quarles



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