Prologue To "albion And Albanius." Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDEFFGHIIFJKKLL MMJJNNOPP QQRRSTTUUVVWWXXVV| Full twenty years and more our labouring stage | A |
| Has lost on this incorrigible age | A |
| Our poets the John Ketches of the nation | B |
| Have seem'd to lash ye even to excoriation | B |
| But still no sign remains which plainly notes | C |
| You bore like heroes or you bribed like Oates | C |
| What can we do when mimicking a fop | D |
| Like beating nut trees makes a larger crop | E |
| Faith we'll e'en spare our pains and to content you | F |
| Will fairly leave you what your Maker meant you | F |
| Satire was once your physic wit your food | G |
| One nourish'd not and t'other drew no blood | H |
| We now prescribe like doctors in despair | I |
| The diet your weak appetites can bear | I |
| Since hearty beef and mutton will not do | F |
| Here's julep dance ptisan of song and show | J |
| Give you strong sense the liquor is too heady | K |
| You're come to farce that's asses' milk already | K |
| Some hopeful youths there are of callow wit | L |
| Who one day may be men if Heaven think fit | L |
| Sound may serve such ere they to sense are grown | M |
| Like leading strings till they can walk alone | M |
| But yet to keep our friends in countenance know | J |
| The wise Italians first invented show | J |
| Thence into France the noble pageant pass'd | N |
| 'Tis England's credit to be cozen'd last | N |
| Freedom and zeal have choused you o'er and o'er | O |
| Pray give us leave to bubble you once more | P |
| You never were so cheaply fool'd before | P |
| - | |
| We bring you change to humour your disease | Q |
| Change for the worse has ever used to please | Q |
| Then 'tis the mode of France without whose rules | R |
| None must presume to set up here for fools | R |
| In France the oldest man is always young | S |
| Sees operas daily learns the tunes so long | T |
| Till foot hand head keep time with every song | T |
| Each sings his part echoing from pit and box | U |
| With his hoarse voice half harmony half pox | U |
| Le plus grand roi du monde is always ringing | V |
| They show themselves good subjects by their singing | V |
| On that condition set up every throat | W |
| You Whigs may sing for you have changed your note | W |
| Cits and citesses raise a joyful strain | X |
| 'Tis a good omen to begin a reign | X |
| Voices may help your charter to restoring | V |
| And get by singing what you lost by roaring | V |
John Dryden
(1)
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