The Scythian Philosopher Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBBCCDDEEFFGHIIJJK GHHLGHMMMLLFNNFO OPPQQRRSTSU| A Scythian philosopher austere | A |
| Resolved his rigid life somewhat to cheer | A |
| Perform'd the tour of Greece saw many things | B |
| But best a sage one such as Virgil sings | B |
| A simple rustic man that equal'd kings | B |
| From whom the gods would hardly bear the palm | C |
| Like them unawed content and calm | C |
| His fortune was a little nook of land | D |
| And there the Scythian found him hook in hand | D |
| His fruit trees pruning Here he cropp'd | E |
| A barren branch there slash'd and lopp'd | E |
| Correcting Nature everywhere | F |
| Who paid with usury his care | F |
| 'Pray why this wasteful havoc sir ' | G |
| So spoke the wondering traveller | H |
| 'Can it I ask in reason's name | I |
| Be wise these harmless trees to maim | I |
| Fling down that instrument of crime | J |
| And leave them to the scythe of Time | J |
| Full soon unhasten'd they will go | K |
| To deck the banks of streams below ' | G |
| Replied the tranquil gardener | H |
| 'I humbly crave your pardon sir | H |
| Excess is all my hook removes | L |
| By which the rest more fruitful proves ' | G |
| The philosophic traveller | H |
| Once more within his country cold | M |
| Himself of pruning hook laid hold | M |
| And made a use most free and bold | M |
| Prescribed to friends and counsel'd neighbours | L |
| To imitate his pruning labours | L |
| The finest limbs he did not spare | F |
| But pruned his orchard past all reason | N |
| Regarding neither time nor season | N |
| Nor taking of the moon a care | F |
| All wither'd droop'd and died | O |
| - | |
| This Scythian I set beside | O |
| The indiscriminating Stoic | P |
| The latter with a blade heroic | P |
| Retrenches from his spirit sad | Q |
| Desires and passions good and bad | Q |
| Not sparing e'en a harmless wish | R |
| Against a tribe so Vandalish | R |
| With earnestness I here protest | S |
| They maim our hearts they stupefy | T |
| Their strongest springs if not their best | S |
| They make us cease to live before we die | U |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
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