The Use Of Knowledge Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCCDEFFGGGHHIIJJKKLL CHMMHHJJKKKH HHHHNNLOPPKK HH| A | |
| - | |
| Between two citizens | B |
| A controversy grew | C |
| The one was poor but much he knew | C |
| The other rich with little sense | D |
| Claim'd that in point of excellence | E |
| The merely wise should bow the knee | F |
| To all such money'd men as he | F |
| The merely fools he should have said | G |
| For why should wealth hold up its head | G |
| When merit from its side hath fled | G |
| 'My friend ' quoth Bloated purse | H |
| To his reverse | H |
| 'You think yourself considerable | I |
| Pray tell me do you keep a table | I |
| What comes of this incessant reading | J |
| In point of lodging clothing feeding | J |
| It gives one true the highest chamber | K |
| One coat for June and for December | K |
| His shadow for his sole attendant | L |
| And hunger always in th' ascendant | L |
| What profits he his country too | C |
| Who scarcely ever spends a sou | H |
| Will haply be a public charge | M |
| Who profits more the state at large | M |
| Than he whose luxuries dispense | H |
| Among the people wealth immense | H |
| We set the streams of life a flowing | J |
| We set all sorts of trades a going | J |
| The spinner weaver sewer vender | K |
| And many a wearer fair and tender | K |
| All live and flourish on the spender | K |
| As do indeed the reverend rooks | H |
| Who waste their time in making books ' | - |
| These words so full of impudence | H |
| Received their proper recompense | H |
| The man of letters held his peace | H |
| Though much he might have said with ease | H |
| A war avenged him soon and well | N |
| In it their common city fell | N |
| Both fled abroad the ignorant | L |
| By fortune thus brought down to want | O |
| Was treated everywhere with scorn | P |
| And roamed about a wretch forlorn | P |
| Whereas the scholar everywhere | K |
| Was nourish'd by the public care | K |
| - | |
| Let fools the studious despise | H |
| There's nothing lost by being wise | H |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Use Of Knowledge poem by Jean De La Fontaine
Best Poems of Jean De La Fontaine