The Elixir Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEB GHGH IJIJ KCKC| Teach me my God and King | A |
| In all things Thee to see | B |
| And what I do in anything | A |
| To do it as for Thee | B |
| - | |
| Not rudely as a beast | C |
| To run into an action | D |
| But still to make Thee prepossest | C |
| And give it his perfection | D |
| - | |
| A man that looks on glass | E |
| On it may stay his eye | F |
| Or it he pleaseth through it pass | E |
| And then the heav'n espy | B |
| - | |
| All may of Thee partake | G |
| Nothing can be so mean | H |
| Which with his tincture for Thy sake | G |
| Will not grow bright and clean | H |
| - | |
| A servant with this clause | I |
| Makes drudgery divine | J |
| Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws | I |
| Makes that and th' action fine | J |
| - | |
| This is the famous stone | K |
| That turneth all to gold | C |
| For that which God doth touch and own | K |
| Cannot for less be told | C |
George Herbert
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Thomas Copeland: There is a misprint: "Or it he pleaseth, through it pass," should read, "Or if he pleaseth, through it pass,"
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