Poet John Dryden

John Dryden

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Prologue To "king Arthur." Spoken By Mr Betterton Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABCDDEEFFGGHHHIIJJK KIIEHHIILLLIIMMNNOON NIIPPPPNN

Sure there's a dearth of wit in this dull townA
When silly plays so savourily go downA
As when clipt money passes 'tis a signB
A nation is not over stock'd with coinC
Happy is he who in his own defenceD
Can write just level to your humble senseD
Who higher than your pitch can never goE
And doubtless he must creep who writes belowE
So have I seen in hall of knight or lordF
A weak arm throw on a long shovel boardF
He barely lays his piece bar rubs and knocksG
Secured by weakness not to reach the boxG
A feeble poet will his business doH
Who straining all he can comes up to youH
For if you like yourselves you like him tooH
An ape his own dear image will embraceI
An ugly beau adores a hatchet faceI
So some of you on pure instinct of natureJ
Are led by kind to admire your fellow creatureJ
In fear of which our house has sent this dayK
To insure our new built vessel call'd a playK
No sooner named than one cries out These stagersI
Come in good time to make more work for wagersI
The town divides if it will take or noE
The courtiers bet the cits the merchants tooH
A sign they have but little else to doH
Bets at the first were fool traps where the wiseI
Like spiders lay in ambush for the fliesI
But now they're grown a common trade for allL
And actions by the new book rise and fallL
Wits cheats and fops are free of wager hallL
One policy as far as Lyons carriesI
Another nearer home sets up for ParisI
Our bets at last would e'en to Rome extendM
But that the pope has proved our trusty friendM
Indeed it were a bargain worth our moneyN
Could we insure another OttoboniN
Among the rest there are a sharping setO
That pray for us and yet against us betO
Sure Heaven itself is at a loss to knowN
If these would have their prayers be heard or noN
For in great stakes we piously supposeI
Men pray but very faintly they may loseI
Leave off these wagers for in conscience speakingP
The city needs not your new tricks for breakingP
And if you gallants lose to all appearingP
You'll want an equipage for volunteeringP
While thus no spark of honour left within yeN
When you should draw the sword you draw the guineaN

John Dryden



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