Courtier And Proteus Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCD EEFF GG HI JJKKFF AALLMMNN OPQR JJAASSTT UUJJVVAAJJ| The country shelters the disgrace | A |
| Of every courtier out of place | A |
| When doomed to exercise and health | B |
| O'er his estate he scatters wealth | B |
| There he builds schemes for others' ruin | C |
| As Philip's son of old was doing | D |
| - | |
| A wandless one upon the strand | E |
| Wandered with heavy hours on hand | E |
| The murmuring waters ran and broke | F |
| Proteus arose and him bespoke | F |
| - | |
| Come ye from court I ask Your mien | G |
| Is so importantly serene | G |
| - | |
| The courtier answered friends had tricked him | H |
| And that he was a party's victim | I |
| - | |
| Proteus replied I hold the skill | J |
| To change to any shape at will | J |
| But I am told at court there be | K |
| Fellows who more than rival me | K |
| Now see a form that I can take | F |
| And Proteus rolled a scaly snake | F |
| - | |
| The man replied Of reptile race | A |
| Is every courtier whilst in place | A |
| Yes they can take the dragon form | L |
| Bask in the sun and flee the storm | L |
| With envy glare with malice gloat | M |
| And cast like you your skin their coat | M |
| And in a dunghill born and bred | N |
| With new born lustre rear the head | N |
| - | |
| Then Proteus as a lion stood | O |
| And shook his mane and stirred the flood | P |
| Then soused as waters soared as fire | Q |
| Then as a tigress glared with ire | R |
| - | |
| Such transformations might appal | J |
| Had I not stood in regal hall | J |
| We hunt the lion utilise | A |
| The elements without surprise | A |
| Such forms indeed are things of prey | S |
| And courtiers hunt them though they bray | S |
| They practise frauds in every shape | T |
| Or as a lion or an ape | T |
| - | |
| So said the courtier grasped the god | U |
| Bound him with cords dragged to the sod | U |
| And said Now tell me Proteus tell | J |
| Do men or ancient gods excel | J |
| For you are bound to tell the truth | V |
| Nor are your transformations sooth | V |
| But courtiers are not bound by ties | A |
| They consort not with truth but lies | A |
| Fix on him any form you will | J |
| A courtier finds evasion still | J |
John Gay
(1)
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