The Library Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHHIIJ JKKLLMMNNOOPPQ PRRSSIITUV JJWWXXYYZZA2A2PPB2B2 C2C2D2D2E2E2F2F2G2G2 PPH2H2I2I2JJJ2J2AAFF G2G2K2K2PPVVPPL2L2M2 M2N2N2O2P2PPQ2Q2D2D2 G2 R2 S2S2JGPPCT2U2U2M2M2B 2B2NNV2V2DDSSZZW2 X2X2D2D2F2F2XXW2 SSXXB2B2XXY2Y2Z2Z2A3 A3G2XB3B3XXSSXXSSSSX XDDXX

When the sad soul by care and grief oppress'dA
Looks round the world but looks in vain for restA
When every object that appears in viewB
Partakes her gloom and seems dejected tooB
Where shall affliction from itself retireC
Where fade away and placidly expireC
Alas we fly to silent scenes in vainD
Care blasts the honours of the flow'ry plainD
Care veils in clouds the sun's meridian beamE
Sighs through the grove and murmurs in the streamE
For when the soul is labouring in despairF
In vain the body breathes a purer airF
No storm tost sailor sighs for slumbering seasG
He dreads the tempest but invokes the breezeG
On the smooth mirror of the deep residesH
Reflected woe and o'er unruffled tidesH
The ghost of every former danger glidesH
Thus in the calms of life we only seeI
A steadier image of our miseryI
But lively gales and gently clouded skiesJ
Disperse the sad reflections as they riseJ
And busy thoughts and little cares availK
To ease the mind when rest and reason failK
When the dull thought by no designs employ'dL
Dwells on the past or suffer'd or enjoy'dL
We bleed anew in every former griefM
And joys departed furnish no reliefM
Not Hope herself with all her flattering artN
Can cure this stubborn sickness of the heartN
The soul disdains each comfort she preparesO
And anxious searches for congenial caresO
Those lenient cares which with our own combinedP
By mix'd sensations ease th' afflicted mindP
And steal our grief away and leave their ownQ
-
behindP
A lighter grief which feeling hearts endureR
Without regret nor e'en demand a cureR
But what strange art what magic can disposeS
The troubled mind to change its native woesS
Or lead us willing from ourselves to seeI
Others more wretched more undone than weI
This BOOKS can do nor this alone they giveT
New views to life and teach us how to liveU
They soothe the grieved the stubborn theyV
-
chastiseJ
Fools they admonish and confirm the wiseJ
Their aid they yield to all they never shunW
The man of sorrow nor the wretch undoneW
Unlike the hard the selfish and the proudX
They fly not sullen from the suppliant crowdX
Nor tell to various people various thingsY
But show to subjects what they show to kingsY
Come Child of Care to make thy soul sereneZ
Approach the treasures of this tranquil sceneZ
Survey the dome and as the doors unfoldA2
The soul's best cure in all her cares beholdA2
Where mental wealth the poor in thought may findP
And mental physic the diseased in mindP
See here the balms that passion's wounds assuageB2
See coolers here that damp the fire of rageB2
Here alt'ratives by slow degrees controlC2
The chronic habits of the sickly soulC2
And round the heart and o'er the aching headD2
Mild opiates here their sober influence shedD2
Now bid thy soul man's busy scenes excludeE2
And view composed this silent multitudeE2
Silent they are but though deprived of soundF2
Here all the living languages aboundF2
Here all that live no more preserved they lieG2
In tombs that open to the curious eyeG2
Blest be the gracious Power who taught mankindP
To stamp a lasting image of the mindP
Beasts may convey and tuneful birds may singH2
Their mutual feelings in the opening springH2
But Man alone has skill and power to sendI2
The heart's warm dictates to the distant friendI2
'Tis his alone to please instruct adviseJ
Ages remote and nations yet to riseJ
In sweet repose when Labour's children sleepJ2
When Joy forgets to smile and Care to weepJ2
When Passion slumbers in the lover's breastA
And Fear and Guilt partake the balm of restA
Why then denies the studious man to shareF
Man's common good who feels his common careF
Because the hope is his that bids him flyG2
Night's soft repose and sleep's mild power defyG2
That after ages may repeat his praiseK2
And fame's fair meed be his for length of daysK2
Delightful prospect when we leave behindP
A worthy offspring of the fruitful mindP
Which born and nursed through many an anxious dayV
Shall all our labour all our care repayV
Yet all are not these births of noble kindP
Not all the children of a vigorous mindP
But where the wisest should alone presideL2
The weak would rule us and the blind would guideL2
Nay man's best efforts taste of man and showM2
The poor and troubled source from which they flowM2
Where most he triumphs we his wants perceiveN2
And for his weakness in his wisdom grieveN2
But though imperfect all yet wisdom lovesO2
This seat serene and virtue's self approvesP2
Here come the grieved a change of thought to findP
The curious here to feed a craving mindP
Here the devout their peaceful temple chooseQ2
And here the poet meets his favouring MuseQ2
With awe around these silent walks I treadD2
These are the lasting mansions of the deadD2
'The dead ' methinks a thousand tongues replyG2
'These are the tombs of such as cannot die '-
Crown'd with eternal fame they sit sublimeR2
'And laugh at all the little strife of time '-
Hail then immortals ye who shine aboveS2
Each in his sphere the literary JoveS2
And ye the common people of these skiesJ
A humbler crowd of nameless deitiesG
Whether 'tis yours to lead the willing mindP
Through History's mazes and the turnings findP
Or whether led by Science ye retireC
Lost and bewilder'd in the vast desireT2
Whether the Muse invites you to her bowersU2
And crowns your placid brows with living flowersU2
Or godlike Wisdom teaches you to showM2
The noblest road to happiness belowM2
Or men and manners prompt the easy pageB2
To mark the flying follies of the ageB2
Whatever good ye boast that good impartN
Inform the head and rectify the heartN
Lo all in silence all in order standV2
And mighty folios first a lordly bandV2
Then quartos their well order'd ranks maintainD
And light octavos fill a spacious plainD
See yonder ranged in more frequented rowsS
A humbler band of duodecimosS
While undistinguish'd trifles swell the sceneZ
The last new play and fritter'd magazineZ
Thus 'tis in life where first the proud theW2
-
greatX2
In leagued assembly keep their cumbrous stateX2
Heavy and huge they fill the world with dreadD2
Are much admired and are but little readD2
The commons next a middle rank are foundF2
Professions fruitful pour their offspring roundF2
Reasoners and wits are next their place allowedX
And last of vulgar tribes a countless crowdX
First let us view the form the size theW2
-
dressS
For these the manners nay the mind expressS
That weight of wood with leathern coat o'erlaidX
Those ample clasps of solid metal madeX
The close press'd leaves unclosed for many an ageB2
The dull red edging of the well fill'd pageB2
On the broad back the stubborn ridges roll'dX
Where yet the title stands in tarnish'd goldX
These all a sage and labour'd work proclaimY2
A painful candidate for lasting fameY2
No idle wit no trifling verse can lurkZ2
In the deep bosom of that weighty workZ2
No playful thoughts degrade the solemn styleA3
Nor one light sentence claims a transient smileA3
Hence in these times untouch'd the pages lieG2
And slumber out their immortalityX
They HAD their day when after after all his toilB3
His morning study and his midnight oilB3
At length an author's ONE great work appearedX
By patient hope and length of days endear'dX
Expecting nations hail'd it from the pressS
Poetic friends prefix'd each kind addressS
Princes and kings received the pond'rous giftX
And ladies read the work they could not liftX
Fashion though Folly's child and guide of foolsS
Rules e'en the wisest and in learning rulesS
From crowds and courts to 'Wisdom's seat she goesS
And reigns triumphant o'er her mother's foesS
For lo these fav'rites of the ancient modeX
Lie all neglected like the Birthday OdeX
Ah needless now this weight of massy chainD
Safe in themselves the once loved works remainD
No readers now invade their still retreatX
None try to steal them from their parent seatX
L-

George Crabbe



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