Fragment (the Western Gale) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFEGHIJKELMN NAEOPQREE EEESTSE SISIEUEVIO SSEIWE XSEESEESEE YQSEESZEYEThe western gale | A |
Mild as the kisses of connubial love | B |
Plays round my languid limbs as all dissolved | C |
Beneath the ancient elm's fantastic shade | D |
I lie exhausted with the noontide heat | E |
While rippling o'er its deep worn pebble bed | F |
The rapid rivulet rushes at my feet | E |
Dispensing coolness On the fringed marge | G |
Full many a floweret rears its head or pink | H |
Or gaudy daffodil 'Tis here at noon | I |
The buskin'd wood nymphs from the heat retire | J |
And lave them in the fountain here secure | K |
From Pan or savage satyr they disport | E |
Or stretch'd supinely on the velvet turf | L |
Lull'd by the laden bee or sultry fly | M |
Invoke the god of slumber | N |
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And hark how merrily from distant tower | N |
Ring round the village bells now on the gale | A |
They rise with gradual swell distinct and loud | E |
Anon they die upon the pensive ear | O |
Melting in faintest music They bespeak | P |
A day of jubilee and oft they bear | Q |
Commix'd along the unfrequented shore | R |
The sound of village dance and tabor loud | E |
Startling the musing ear of Solitude | E |
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Such is the jocund wake of Whitsuntide | E |
When happy Superstition gabbling eld | E |
Holds her unhurtful gambols All the day | E |
The rustic revellers ply the mazy dance | S |
On the smooth shaven green and then at eve | T |
Commence the harmless rites and auguries | S |
And many a tale of ancient days goes round | E |
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They tell of wizard seer whose potent spells | S |
Could hold in dreadful thrall the labouring moon | I |
Or draw the fix'd stars from their eminence | S |
And still the midnight tempest Then anon | I |
Tell of uncharnel'd spectres seen to glide | E |
Along the lone wood's unfrequented path | U |
Startling the 'nighted traveller while the sound | E |
Of undistinguished murmurs heard to come | V |
From the dark centre of the deepening glen | I |
Struck on his frozen ear | O |
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Oh Ignorance | S |
Thou art fallen man's best friend With thee he speeds | S |
In frigid apathy along his way | E |
And never does the tear of agony | I |
Burn down his scorching cheek or the keen steel | W |
Of wounded feeling penetrate his breast | E |
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E'en now as leaning on this fragrant bank | X |
I taste of all the keener happiness | S |
Which sense refined affords E'en now my heart | E |
Would fain induce me to forsake the world | E |
Throw off these garments and in shepherd's weeds | S |
With a small flock and short suspended reed | E |
To sojourn in the woodland Then my thought | E |
Draws such gay pictures of ideal bliss | S |
That I could almost err in reason's spite | E |
And trespass on my judgment | E |
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Such is life | Y |
The distant prospect always seems more fair | Q |
And when attain'd another still succeeds | S |
Far fairer than before yet compass'd round | E |
With the same dangers and the same dismay | E |
And we poor pilgrims in this dreary maze | S |
Still discontented chase the fairy form | Z |
Of unsubstantial Happiness to find | E |
When life itself is sinking in the strife | Y |
'Tis but an airy bubble and a cheat | E |
Henry Kirk White
(1)
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