To The Duke Of Dorset. [1] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGGGHHII JJGGKKLLMMDD NNOOPPEEKK DDQQRRSSFFOOGGOOGGGG TTOOUVOOWWLLKKGGWWGG OOFF DDXX OOOODDOOYYZZGGGGOOA2 A2OO

Dorset whose early steps with mine have stray'dA
Exploring every path of Ida's gladeA
Whom still affection taught me to defendB
And made me less a tyrant than a friendB
Though the harsh custom of our youthful bandC
Bade thee obey and gave me to commandC
Thee on whose head a few short years will showerD
The gift of riches and the pride of powerD
E'en now a name illustrious is thine ownE
Renown'd in rank not far beneath the throneE
Yet Dorset let not this seduce thy soulF
To shun fair science or evade controulF
Though passive tutors fearful to dispraiseG
The titled child whose future breath may raiseG
View ducal errors with indulgent eyesG
And wink at faults they tremble to chastiseG
When youthful parasites who bend the kneeH
To wealth their golden idol not to theeH
And even in simple boyhood's opening dawnI
Some slaves are found to flatter and to fawnI
When these declare that pomp alone should waitJ
On one by birth predestin'd to be greatJ
That books were only meant for drudging foolsG
That gallant spirits scorn the common rulesG
Believe them not they point the path to shameK
And seek to blast the honours of thy nameK
Turn to the few in Ida's early throngL
Whose souls disdain not to condemn the wrongL
Or if amidst the comrades of thy youthM
None dare to raise the sterner voice of truthM
Ask thine own heart 'twill bid thee boy forbearD
For well I know that virtue lingers thereD
-
Yes I have mark'd thee many a passing dayN
But now new scenes invite me far awayN
Yes I have mark'd within that generous mindO
A soul if well matur'd to bless mankindO
Ah though myself by nature haughty wildP
Whom Indiscretion hail'd her favourite childP
Though every error stamps me for her ownE
And dooms my fall I fain would fall aloneE
Though my proud heart no precept now can tameK
I love the virtues which I cannot claimK
-
'Tis not enough with other sons of powerD
To gleam the lambent meteor of an hourD
To swell some peerage page in feeble prideQ
With long drawn names that grace no page besideQ
Then share with titled crowds the common lotR
In life just gaz'd at in the grave forgotR
While nought divides thee from the vulgar deadS
Except the dull cold stone that hides thy headS
The mouldering 'scutcheon or the Herald's rollF
That well emblazon'd but neglected scrollF
Where Lords unhonour'd in the tomb may findO
One spot to leave a worthless name behindO
There sleep unnotic'd as the gloomy vaultsG
That veil their dust their follies and their faultsG
A race with old armorial lists o'erspreadO
In records destin'd never to be readO
Fain would I view thee with prophetic eyesG
Exalted more among the good and wiseG
A glorious and a long career pursueG
As first in Rank the first in Talent tooG
Spurn every vice each little meanness shunT
Not Fortune's minion but her noblest sonT
Turn to the annals of a former dayO
Bright are the deeds thine earlier Sires displayO
One though a courtier lived a man of worthU
And call'd proud boast the British drama forthV
Another view not less renown'd for WitO
Alike for courts and camps or senates fitO
Bold in the field and favour'd by the NineW
In every splendid part ordain'd to shineW
Far far distinguished from the glittering throngL
The pride of Princes and the boast of SongL
Such were thy Fathers thus preserve their nameK
Not heir to titles only but to FameK
The hour draws nigh a few brief days will closeG
To me this little scene of joys and woesG
Each knell of Time now warns me to resignW
Shades where Hope Peace and Friendship all were mineW
Hope that could vary like the rainbow's hueG
And gild their pinions as the moments flewG
Peace that reflection never frown'd awayO
By dreams of ill to cloud some future dayO
Friendship whose truth let Childhood only tellF
Alas they love not long who love so wellF
-
To these adieu nor let me linger o'erD
Scenes hail'd as exiles hail their native shoreD
Receding slowly through the dark blue deepX
Beheld by eyes that mourn yet cannot weepX
-
Dorset farewell I will not ask one partO
Of sad remembrance in so young a heartO
The coming morrow from thy youthful mindO
Will sweep my name nor leave a trace behindO
And yet perhaps in some maturer yearD
Since chance has thrown us in the self same sphereD
Since the same senate nay the same debateO
May one day claim our suffrage for the stateO
We hence may meet and pass each other byY
With faint regard or cold and distant eyeY
For me in future neither friend nor foeZ
A stranger to thyself thy weal or woeZ
With thee no more again I hope to traceG
The recollection of our early raceG
No more as once in social hours rejoiceG
Or hear unless in crowds thy well known voiceG
Still if the wishes of a heart untaughtO
To veil those feelings which perchance it oughtO
If these but let me cease the lengthen'd strainA2
Oh if these wishes are not breath'd in vainA2
The Guardian Seraph who directs thy fateO
Will leave thee glorious as he found thee greatO

George Gordon Byron



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