Elegy, Written In The Year 1758 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDD EEFFGGHHIIJK LLDDEEFFMMEENNOOPPQQ FF RRSGEEEETT FFUUVVCCWW XXYYZZA2A2QQB2B2DDGG CCC2C2FFD2D2 FFE2E2F2F2B2B2JG2| Still shall unthinking man substantial deem | A |
| The forms that fleet through life's deceitful dream | A |
| On clouds where Fancy's beam amusive plays | B |
| Shall heedless Hope the towering fabric raise | B |
| Till at Death's touch the fairy visions fly | C |
| And real scenes rush dismal on the eye | C |
| And from Elysium's balmy slumber torn | D |
| The startled soul awakes to think and mourn | D |
| - | |
| O ye whose hours in jocund train advance | E |
| Whose spirits to the song of gladness dance | E |
| Who flowery vales in endless view survey | F |
| Glittering in beams of visionary day | F |
| O yet while Fate delays th' impending wo | G |
| Be roused to thought anticipate the blow | G |
| Lest like the lightning's glance the sudden ill | H |
| Flash to confound and penetrate to kill | H |
| Lest thus encompass'd with funereal gloom | I |
| Like me ye bend o'er some untimely tomb | I |
| Pour your wild ravings in Night's frighted ear | J |
| And half pronounce Heavens sacred doom severe | K |
| - | |
| Wise beauteous good O every grace combined | L |
| That charms the eye or captivates the mind | L |
| Fair as the floweret opening on the morn | D |
| Whose leaves bright drops of liquid pearl adorn | D |
| Sweet as the downy pinion'd gale that roves | E |
| To gather fragrance in Arabian groves | E |
| Mild as the strains that at the close of day | F |
| Warbling remote along the vales decay | F |
| Yet why with these compared What tints so fine | M |
| What sweetness mildness can be match'd with thine | M |
| Why roam abroad Since still to fancy's eyes | E |
| I see I see thy lovely form arise | E |
| Still let me gaze and every care beguile | N |
| Gaze on that cheek where all the Graces smile | N |
| That soul expressing eye benignly bright | O |
| Where meekness beams ineffable delight | O |
| That brow where Wisdom sits enthroned serene | P |
| Each feature forms and dignifies the mien | P |
| Still let me listen while her words impart | Q |
| The sweet effusions of the blameless heart | Q |
| Till all my soul each tumult charm'd away | F |
| Yields gently led to Virtue's easy sway | F |
| - | |
| By thee inspired O Virtue age is young | R |
| And music warbles from the faltering tongue | R |
| Thy ray creative cheers the clouded brow | S |
| And decks the faded cheek with rosy glow | G |
| Brightens the joyless aspect and supplies | E |
| Pure heavenly lustre to the languid eyes | E |
| But when Youth's living bloom reflects thy beams | E |
| Resistless on the view the glory streams | E |
| Love Wonder Joy alternately alarm | T |
| And Beauty dazzles with angelic charm | T |
| - | |
| Ah whither fled ye dear illusions stay | F |
| Lo pale and silent lies the lovely clay | F |
| How are the roses on that cheek decay'd | U |
| Which late the purple light of youth display'd | U |
| Health on her form each sprightly grace bestow'd | V |
| With life and thought each speaking feature glow'd | V |
| Fair was the flower and soft the vernal sky | C |
| Elate with hope we deem'd no tempest nigh | C |
| When lo a whirlwind's instantaneous gust | W |
| Left all its beauties withering in the dust | W |
| - | |
| All cold the hand that soothed Wo's weary head | X |
| And quench'd the eye the pitying tear that shed | X |
| And mute the voice whose pleasing accents stole | Y |
| Infusing balm into the rankled soul | Y |
| O Death why arm with cruelty thy power | Z |
| And spare the idle weed yet lop the flower | Z |
| Why fly thy shafts in lawless error driven | A2 |
| Is Virtue then no more the care of Heaven | A2 |
| But peace bold thought be still my bursting heart | Q |
| We not Eliza felt the fatal dart | Q |
| 'Scaped the dark dungeon does the slave complain | B2 |
| Nor bless the hand that broke the galling chain | B2 |
| Say pines not Virtue for the lingering morn | D |
| On this dark wild condemn'd to roam forlorn | D |
| Where Reason's meteor rays with sickly glow | G |
| O'er the dun gloom a dreadful glimmering flow | G |
| Disclosing dubious to th' affrighted eye | C |
| O'erwhelming mountains tottering from on high | C |
| Black billowy seas in storm perpetual toss'd | C2 |
| And weary ways in wildering labyrinths lost | C2 |
| O happy stroke that bursts the bonds of clay | F |
| Darts through the rending gloom the blaze of day | F |
| And wings the soul with boundless flight to soar | D2 |
| Where dangers threat and fears alarm no more | D2 |
| - | |
| Transporting thought here let me wipe away | F |
| The tear of grief and wake a bolder lay | F |
| But ah the swimming eye o'erflows anew | E2 |
| Nor check the sacred drops to pity due | E2 |
| Lo where in speechless hopeless anguish bend | F2 |
| O'er her loved dust the Parent Brother Friend | F2 |
| How vain the hope of man But cease thy strain | B2 |
| Nor Sorrow's dread solemnly profane | B2 |
| Mix'd with yon drooping Mourners on her bier | J |
| In silence shed the sympathetic tear | G2 |
James Beattie
(1)
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