Prologue To The Rival Ladies. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGHIIJJKK LMN O BB P PQQRASSOOTU| 'Tis much desired you judges of the town | A |
| Would pass a vote to put all prologues down | A |
| For who can show me since they first were writ | B |
| They e'er converted one hard hearted wit | B |
| Yet the world's mended well in former days | C |
| Good prologues were as scarce as now good plays | C |
| For the reforming poets of our age | D |
| In this first charge spend their poetic rage | D |
| Expect no more when once the prologue's done | E |
| The wit is ended ere the play's begun | E |
| You now have habits dances scenes and rhymes | F |
| High language often ay and sense sometimes | F |
| As for a clear contrivance doubt it now | G |
| They blow out candles to give light to the plot | H |
| And for surprise two bloody minded men | I |
| Fight till they die then rise and dance again | I |
| Such deep intrigues you're welcome to this day | J |
| But blame yourselves not him who writ the play | J |
| Though his plot's dull as can be well desired | K |
| Wit stiff as any you have e'er admired | K |
| He's bound to please not to write well and knows | L |
| There is a mode in plays as well as clothes | M |
| Therefore kind judges | N |
| - | |
| - | |
| A SECOND PROLOGUE ENTERS | O |
| - | |
| Hold would you admit | B |
| For judges all you see within the pit | B |
| - | |
| Whom would he then except or on what score | P |
| - | |
| All who like him have writ ill plays before | P |
| For they like thieves condemn'd are hangmen made | Q |
| To execute the members of their trade | Q |
| All that are writing now he would disown | R |
| But then he must except even all the town | A |
| All choleric losing gamesters who in spite | S |
| Will damn to day because they lost last night | S |
| All servants whom their mistress' scorn upbraids | O |
| All maudlin lovers and all slighted maids | O |
| All who are out of humour all severe | T |
| All that want wit or hope to find it here | U |
John Dryden
(1)
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