Vision Of Columbus - Book 1 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ KKFFAALLMMBBBBNO BBONBBPP FFAAQQBBFF AABBRRSTUUFFBBFFVV BBCC BBBBCCWGXXBBYY VVWWFFVVXXLLZZBBA2A2 XXB2B2VVQQWW DDXXBBDD BBBBBBBBBBVVDDBBC2C2 D2D2DDBBFFBBBBE2E2F2 F2VVBBG2H2I2J2K2

Long had the Sage the first who dared to braveA
The unknown dangers of the western waveA
Who taught mankind where future empires layB
In these fair confines of descending dayB
With cares o'erwhelm'd in life's distressing gloomC
Wish'd from a thankless world a peaceful tombC
While kings and nations envious of his nameD
Enjoy'd his toils and triumph'd o'er his fameD
And gave the chief from promised empire hurl'dE
Chains for a crown a prison for a worldE
Now night and silence held their lonely reignF
The half orb'd moon declining to the mainF
Descending clouds o'er varying ether drivenG
Obscured the stars and shut the eye from heavenG
Cold mists through opening grates the cell invadeH
And deathlike terrors haunt the midnight shadeH
When from a visionary short reposeI
That raised new cares and temper'd keener woesI
Columbus woke and to the walls address'dJ
The deep felt sorrows of his manly breastJ
-
Here lies the purchase here the wretched spoilK
Of painful years and persevering toilK
For these dread walks this hideous haunt of painF
I traced new regions o'er the pathless mainF
Dared all the dangers of the dreary waveA
Hung o'er its clefts and topp'd the surging graveA
Saw billowy seas in swelling mountains rollL
And bursting thunders rock the reddening poleL
Death rear his front in every dreadful formM
Gape from beneath and blacken in the stormM
Till tost far onward to the skirts of dayB
Where milder suns dispens'd a smiling rayB
Through brighter skies my happier sails descry'dB
The golden banks that bound the western tideB
And gave the admiring world that bounteous shoreN
Their wealth to nations and to kings their powerO
-
Oh land of transport dear delusive coastB
To these fond aged eyes forever lostB
No more thy gladdening vales I travel o'erO
For me thy mountains rear the head no moreN
For me thy rocks no sparkling gems unfoldB
Or streams luxuriant wear their paths in goldB
From realms of promised peace forever borneP
I hail dread anguish and in secret mournP
-
But dangers past fair climes explored in vainF
And foes triumphant shew but half my painF
Dissembling friends each earlier joy who gaveA
And fired my youth the storms of fate to braveA
Swarm'd in the sunshine of my happier daysQ
Pursued the fortune and partook the praiseQ
Bore in my doubtful cause a twofold partB
The garb of friendship and the viper's heartB
Pass my loath'd cell with smiles of sour disdainF
Insult my woes and triumph in my painF
-
One gentle guardian Heaven indulgent gaveA
And now that guardian slumbers in the graveA
Hear from above thou dear departed shadeB
As once my joys my present sorrows aidB
Burst my full heart afford that last reliefR
Breathe back my sighs and re inspire my griefR
Still in my sight thy royal form appearsS
Reproves my silence and demands my tearsT
On that blest hour my soul delights to dwellU
When thy protection bade the canvass swellU
When kings and courtiers found their factions vainF
Blind Superstition shrunk beneath her chainF
The sun's glad beam led on the circling wayB
And isles rose beauteous in the western dayB
But o'er those silvery shores that fair domainF
What crowds of tyrants fix their horrid reignF
Again fair Freedom seeks her kindred skiesV
Truth leaves the world and Isabella diesV
-
Oh lend thy friendly shroud to veil my sightB
That these pain'd eyes may dread no more the lightB
These welcome shades conclude my instant doomC
And this drear mansion moulder to a tombC
-
Thus mourn'd the hapless chief a thundering soundB
Roll'd round the shuddering walls and shook the groundB
O'er all the dome where solemn arches bendB
The roofs unfold and streams of light descendB
The growing splendor fill'd the astonish'd roomC
And gales ethereal breathed a glad perfumeC
Mild in the midst a radiant seraph shoneW
Robed in the vestments of the rising sunG
Tall rose his stature youth's primeval graceX
Moved o'er his limbs and wanton'd in his faceX
His closing wings in golden plumage drestB
With gentle sweep came folding o'er his breastB
His locks in rolling ringlets glittering hungY
And sounds melodious moved his heavenly tongueY
-
Rise trembling Chief to scenes of rapture riseV
This voice awaits thee from the approving skiesV
Thy just complaints in heavenly audience knownW
Call mild compassion from the indulgent throneW
Let grief no more awake the piteous strainF
Nor think thy piety or toils are vainF
Tho' faithless men thy injured worth despiseV
Depress all virtue and insult the skiesV
Yet look thro' nature Heaven's own conduct traceX
What power divine sustains the unthankful raceX
From that great Source that life inspiring SoulL
Suns drew their light and systems learn'd to rollL
Time walk'd the silent round and life beganZ
And God's fair image stamp'd the mind of manZ
Down the long vale where rolling years descendB
To thy own days behold his care extendB
From one eternal Spring what love proceedsA2
Smiles in the seraph in the Saviour bleedsA2
Shines through all worlds that fill the bounds of spaceX
And lives and brightens in thy favour'd raceX
Yet no return the almighty Power can knowB2
From earth to heaven no just reward can flowB2
Men spread their wants the all bounteous hand suppliesV
And gives the joys that mortals dare despiseV
In these dark vales where blinded faction swaysQ
Wealth pride and conquest claim the palm of praiseQ
Aw'd into slaves while groping millions groanW
And blood stain'd steps lead upwards to a throneW
-
Far other wreaths thy virtuous temples claimD
Far nobler honours build thy sacred nameD
Thine be the joys the immortal mind that graceX
Pleas'd with the toils that bless thy kindred raceX
Now raise thy ravish'd soul to scenes more brightB
The glorious fruits ascending on thy sightB
For wing'd with speed from brighter worlds I cameD
To sooth thy grief and show thy distant fameD
-
As that great Seer whose animating rodB
Taught Israel's sons the wonder working GodB
Who led thro' dreary wastes the murmuring bandB
To the fair confines of the promised landB
Oppress'd with years from Pisgah's beauteous heightB
O'er boundless regions cast the raptured sightB
The joys of unborn nations warm'd his breastB
Repaid his toils and sooth'd his soul to restB
Thus o'er thy subject wave shalt thou beholdB
Far happier realms their future charms unfoldB
In nobler pomp another Pisgah riseV
Beneath whose foot thine own Canaumlan liesV
There rapt in vision hail the distant climeD
And taste the blessings of remotest timeD
The Seraph spoke and now before them layB
The doors unbarr'd a steep ascending wayB
That through disparting shades arose on highC2
Reach'd o'er the hills and lengthen'd up the skyC2
Oped a fair summit graced with rising flowersD2
Sweet odours breathing through celestial bowersD2
O'er proud Hispanian spires it looks sublimeD
Subjects the Alps and levels all the climeD
Led by the Power the hero gain'd the heightB
A touch from heaven sublimed his mortal sightB
And calm beneath them flow'd the western mainF
Far stretch'd immense a sky encircled plainF
No sail no isle no cloud invests the boundB
Nor billowy surge disturbs the unvaried roundB
Till deep in distant heavens the sun's dim rayB
Topp'd unknown cliffs and call'd them up to dayB
Slow glimmering into sight wide regions drewE2
And rose and brighten'd on the expanding viewE2
Fair sweep the waves the lessening ocean smilesF2
And breathes the fragrance of a thousand islesF2
Near and more near the long drawn coasts ariseV
Bays stretch their arms and mountains lift the skiesV
The lakes unfolding point the streams their wayB
The plains the hills their lengthening skirts displayB
The vales draw forth high walk the approaching grovesG2
And all the majesty of nature movesH2
O'er the wild climes his eyes delighted roveI2
Where lands extend and glittering waters moveJ2
He saw through central realms theK2

Joel Barlow



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