The Impossible Thing Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDEFFGGHIJJKKLL MM NNOOPPQQRR SSTTUUVVBBWW XXYYZZA2A2PPB2B2 C2C2D2D2E2E2F2F2G2G2 H2H2I2I2J2J2JJK2L2M2 M2N2N2 SSO2O2P2P2 Q2Q2J2J2TT| A DEMON blacker in his skin than heart | A |
| So great a charm was prompted to impart | A |
| To one in love that he the lady gained | B |
| And full possession in the end obtained | B |
| The bargain was the lover should enjoy | C |
| The belle he wished and who had proved so coy | C |
| Said Satan soon I'll make her lend an ear | D |
| In ev'ry thing more complaisant appear | E |
| But then instead of what thou might'st expect | F |
| To be obedient and let me direct | F |
| The devil having thus obliged a friend | G |
| He'll thy commands obey thou may'st depend | G |
| The very moment and within the hour | H |
| Thy humble servant who has got such pow'r | I |
| Will ask for others which at once thou'lt find | J |
| Make no delay for if thou art so blind | J |
| Thou comprehend'st thy body and thy soul | K |
| The lovely fair no longer shall control | K |
| But Satan then upon them both shall seize | L |
| And with them do whatever he may please | L |
| 'Gainst this the spark had not a word to say | M |
| 'Twas pleasing to command though not obey | M |
| - | |
| HE sallied forth the beauteous belle to seek | N |
| And found her as he wished complying meek | N |
| Indulged in blisses and most happy proved | O |
| Save that the devil always round him moved | O |
| Whatever rose within the whirl of thought | P |
| He now commanded quickly it was brought | P |
| And when he ordered palaces to rise | Q |
| Or raging tempests to pervade the skies | Q |
| The devil instantly obeyed his will | R |
| And what he asked was done with wondrous skill | R |
| - | |
| LARGE sums his purse received the devil went | S |
| just where commanded and to Rome was sent | S |
| From whence his highness store of pardons got | T |
| No journey long though distant was the spot | T |
| But ev'ry thing with magick ease arose | U |
| And all was soon accomplished that he chose | U |
| So oft the spark was asked for orders new | V |
| Which he was bound to give the fiend at view | V |
| That soon his head most thoroughly was drained | B |
| And to the fair our lover much complained | B |
| Declared the truth and ev'ry thing detailed | W |
| How he was lost if in commands he failed | W |
| - | |
| IS'T this said she that makes thee so forlorn | X |
| Mere nothing quickly I'll remove the thorn | X |
| When Satan comes present his highness this | Y |
| Which I have here and say You will not miss | Y |
| To make it flat and not its curl retain | Z |
| On which she gave him what with little pain | Z |
| She drew from covert of the Cyprian grove | A2 |
| The fairy labyrinth where pleasures rove | A2 |
| Which formerly a duke so precious thought | P |
| To raise a knightly order thence he sought | P |
| Illustrious institution noble plan | B2 |
| More filled with gods and demi gods than man | B2 |
| - | |
| THE lover to the crafty devil said | C2 |
| 'Tis crooked this you see and I am led | C2 |
| To wish it otherwise go make it straight | D2 |
| A perfect line no turn nor twist nor plait | D2 |
| Away to work be quick fly hasten run | E2 |
| The demon fancied it could soon be done | E2 |
| No time he lost but set it in the press | F2 |
| And tried to manage it with great success | F2 |
| The massy hammer kept beneath the deep | G2 |
| Made no impression he as well might sleep | G2 |
| Howe'er he beat whatever charm he used | H2 |
| 'Twas still the same obedience it refused | H2 |
| His time and labour constantly were lost | I2 |
| Vain proved each effort mystick skill was crossed | I2 |
| The wind or rain or fog or frost or snow | J2 |
| Had no effect still circular 'twould go | J2 |
| The more he tried the ringlet less inclined | J |
| To drop the curvature so closely twined | J |
| How's this said Satan never have I seen | K2 |
| Such stubborn stuff wherever I have been | L2 |
| The shades below no demon can produce | M2 |
| That could divine what here would prove of use | M2 |
| 'Twould puzzle hell to break the curling spring | N2 |
| And make a line direct of such a thing | N2 |
| - | |
| ONE morn the devil to the other went | S |
| Said he to give thee up I'll be content | S |
| If solely thou wilt openly declare | O2 |
| What 'tis I hold for truly I despair | O2 |
| I'm victus I confess and can't succeed | P2 |
| No doubt the thing's impossible decreed | P2 |
| - | |
| - | |
| FRIEND Satan said the lover you are wrong | Q2 |
| Despondency should not to you belong | Q2 |
| At least so soon what you desire to know | J2 |
| Is not the only one that's found to grow | J2 |
| Still many more companions it has got | T |
| And others could be taken from the spot | T |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
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