On The Death Of Amyntas. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCDDDCCEEFGHHIIJJK KLLMMNOPPQREEESSTTCC C E JJDDDUVWWEEPPXXEE Y EEEEEZZ E A2A2CCEEB2B2C2C2EED2 D2ZZ| A Pastoral Elegy | A |
| - | |
| - | |
| 'Twas on a joyless and a gloomy morn | B |
| Wet was the grass and hung with pearls the thorn | B |
| When Damon who design'd to pass the day | C |
| With hounds and horns and chase the flying prey | C |
| Rose early from his bed but soon he found | D |
| The welkin pitch'd with sullen clouds around | D |
| An eastern wind and dew upon the ground | D |
| Thus while he stood and sighing did survey | C |
| The fields and cursed the ill omens of the day | C |
| He saw Menalcas come with heavy pace | E |
| Wet were his eyes and cheerless was his face | E |
| He wrung his hands distracted with his care | F |
| And sent his voice before him from afar | G |
| Return he cried return unhappy swain | H |
| The spungy clouds are fill'd with gathering rain | H |
| The promise of the day not only cross'd | I |
| But even the spring the spring itself is lost | I |
| Amyntas oh he could not speak the rest | J |
| Nor needed for presaging Damon guess'd | J |
| Equal with heaven young Damon loved the boy | K |
| The boast of nature both his parents' joy | K |
| His graceful form revolving in his mind | L |
| So great a genius and a soul so kind | L |
| Gave sad assurance that his fears were true | M |
| Too well the envy of the gods he knew | M |
| For when their gifts too lavishly are placed | N |
| Soon they repent and will not make them last | O |
| For sure it was too bountiful a dole | P |
| The mother's features and the father's soul | P |
| Then thus he cried the morn bespoke the news | Q |
| The morning did her cheerful light diffuse | R |
| But see how suddenly she changed her face | E |
| And brought on clouds and rain the day's disgrace | E |
| Just such Amyntas was thy promised race | E |
| What charms adorn'd thy youth where nature smiled | S |
| And more than man was given us in a child | S |
| His infancy was ripe a soul sublime | T |
| In years so tender that prevented time | T |
| Heaven gave him all at once then snatch'd away | C |
| Ere mortals all his beauties could survey | C |
| Just like the flower that buds and withers in a day | C |
| - | |
| MENALCAS | E |
| - | |
| The mother lovely though with grief oppress'd | J |
| Reclined his dying head upon her breast | J |
| The mournful family stood all around | D |
| One groan was heard one universal sound | D |
| All were in floods of tears and endless sorrow drown'd | D |
| So dire a sadness sat on every look | U |
| Even Death repented he had given the stroke | V |
| He grieved his fatal work had been ordain'd | W |
| But promised length of life to those who yet remain'd | W |
| The mother's and her eldest daughter's grace | E |
| It seems had bribed him to prolong their space | E |
| The father bore it with undaunted soul | P |
| Like one who durst his destiny control | P |
| Yet with becoming grief he bore his part | X |
| Resign'd his son but not resign'd his heart | X |
| Patient as Job and may he live to see | E |
| Like him a new increasing family | E |
| - | |
| DAMON | Y |
| - | |
| Such is my wish and such my prophecy | E |
| For yet my friend the beauteous mould remains | E |
| Long may she exercise her fruitful pains | E |
| But ah with better hap and bring a race | E |
| More lasting and endued with equal grace | E |
| Equal she may but further none can go | Z |
| For he was all that was exact below | Z |
| - | |
| MENALCAS | E |
| - | |
| Damon behold yon breaking purple cloud | A2 |
| Hear'st thou not hymns and songs divinely loud | A2 |
| There mounts Amyntas the young cherubs play | C |
| About their godlike mate and sing him on his way | C |
| He cleaves the liquid air behold he flies | E |
| And every moment gains upon the skies | E |
| The new come guest admires the ethereal state | B2 |
| The sapphire portal and the golden gate | B2 |
| And now admitted in the shining throng | C2 |
| He shows the passport which he brought along | C2 |
| His passport is his innocence and grace | E |
| Well known to all the natives of the place | E |
| Now sing ye joyful angels and admire | D2 |
| Your brother's voice that conies to mend your quire | D2 |
| Sing you while endless tears our eyes bestow | Z |
| For like Amyntas none is left below | Z |
John Dryden
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
<< Alexander's Feast; Or, The Power Of Music. Poem
Prologue To "cesar Borgia;"[1] By Nathan Lee, 1680. Poem>>
Write your comment about On The Death Of Amyntas. poem by John Dryden
Best Poems of John Dryden