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)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
About Prologue To The Rival Ladies.
Prologue To The Rival Ladies. is a poem by John Dryden. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
Write your comment about Prologue To The Rival Ladies. poem by John Dryden
Best Poems of John Dryden