The Ingratitude And Injustice Of Men Towards Fortune Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBBBCCDDEFFGHHIIJJKK KKLLM NOOPKKQRDRDDDSSST TR RRRTT| A | |
| - | |
| A trader on the sea to riches grew | B |
| Freight after freight the winds in favour blew | B |
| Fate steer'd him clear gulf rock nor shoal | B |
| Of all his bales exacted toll | B |
| Of other men the powers of chance and storm | C |
| Their dues collected in substantial form | C |
| While smiling Fortune in her kindest sport | D |
| Took care to waft his vessels to their port | D |
| His partners factors agents faithful proved | E |
| His goods tobacco sugar spice | F |
| Were sure to fetch the highest price | F |
| By fashion and by folly loved | G |
| His rich brocades and laces | H |
| And splendid porcelain vases | H |
| Enkindling strong desires | I |
| Most readily found buyers | I |
| In short gold rain'd where'er he went | J |
| Abundance more than could be spent | J |
| Dogs horses coaches downy bedding | K |
| His very fasts were like a wedding | K |
| A bosom friend a look his table giving | K |
| Inquired whence came such sumptuous living | K |
| 'Whence should it come ' said he superb of brow | L |
| 'But from the fountain of my knowing how | L |
| I owe it simply to my skill and care | M |
| In risking only where the marts will bear ' | - |
| And now so sweet his swelling profits were | N |
| He risk'd anew his former gains | O |
| Success rewarded not his pains | O |
| His own imprudence was the cause | P |
| One ship ill freighted went awreck | K |
| Another felt of arms the lack | K |
| When pirates trampling on the laws | Q |
| O'ercame and bore it off a prize | R |
| A third arriving at its port | D |
| Had fail'd to sell its merchandize | R |
| The style and folly of the court | D |
| Not now requiring such a sort | D |
| His agents factors fail'd in short | D |
| The man himself from pomp and princely cheer | S |
| And palaces and parks and dogs and deer | S |
| Fell down to poverty most sad and drear | S |
| His friend now meeting him in shabby plight | T |
| Exclaim'd 'And whence comes this to pass ' | - |
| 'From Fortune ' said the man 'alas ' | - |
| 'Console yourself ' replied the friendly wight | T |
| 'For if to make you rich the dame denies | R |
| She can't forbid you to be wise ' | - |
| - | |
| What faith he gain'd I do not wis | R |
| I know in every case like this | R |
| Each claims the credit of his bliss | R |
| And with a heart ingrate | T |
| Imputes his misery to Fate | T |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
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