Plutus, Cupid, And Time Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDEEAAEEFA GGAAHHEE HHEEIIJJKKEEAALLEE EEMMAAHH NOAAPPQQ AAEERREEEEJJEE EEAASSCCTTUUGGAA MMGGEEGGAAKKGGAAVVMM MMMMWWAA MMMM

Of all the burthens mortals bearA
Time is most galling and severeB
Beneath his grievous load oppressedC
We daily meet a man distressedC
I've breakfasted and what to doD
I do not know we dine at twoD
He takes a pamphlet or the papersE
But neither can dispel his vapoursE
He raps his snuff box hums an airA
He lolls or changes now his chairA
He sips his tea or bites his nailsE
Then finds a chum and then bewailsE
Unto his sympathising earF
The burthen they have both to bearA
-
I wish all hours were post meridiemG
Said Tom so that I were well rid of 'mG
Why won't men play piquet and ombreA
Before the evening hour grows sombreA
The women do it play quadrilleH
Morning and evening when they willH
They cast away the spleen and vapoursE
By daylight as by midnight tapersE
-
My case is different said WillH
I have the means but lack the skillH
I am a courtier in attendanceE
And sleep the time out in dependenceE
I should have been until the darkI
But for this rain now in the parkI
And then at court till coming nightJ
Puts court and all my cares to flightJ
Then comes my dinner then awayK
From wine unto the stupid playK
Till ten o'clock and then assembliesE
And so my time which you contemn fliesE
I like to ramble midst the fairA
And nothing I find vexes thereA
Save that time flies and then the clubL
Gives men their supper and their rubL
And there we all enjoy ourselvesE
Till slumber lays us on her shelvesE
-
My worthy friends Time which devoursE
Eats up the demons passing hoursE
Were you to books or business bredM
Too fleetly then would they be spedM
For time is fugitive as airA
Now lay aside your spleen or careA
And listen unto me and fableH
That is to say if you are ableH
-
Plutus one morn met Master CupidN
They stood a moment as though stupidO
Until they recognised each otherA
They complimented with some potherA
When Time overtook them in his walkP
And then all three fell into talkP
Of what each one had done for manQ
And Plutus purse proud he beganQ
-
Let kings or cobblers for that matterA
Tell of the gifts which we bespatterA
Deem ye that loyalty encumbersE
The congregated courtly numbersE
Be undeceived the strongest holdR
Man has on fellow man is goldR
Knaves have led senates swayed debatesE
Enriched themselves and beggared statesE
Flatter yourselves no more 'tis richesE
The depth of pocket of the breechesE
That rules the roast Unhappy wightJ
Is the poor soul with pocket lightJ
His solitary day descendsE
Quite unencumbered by his friendsE
-
Of human hearts and of their yearningsE
Said Cupid I have some discerningsE
And own the power of gold Its powerA
Added to beauty as its dowerA
Has oftentimes there's no disputingS
Added a charm was passed confutingS
Ay marriage as has been professedC
Is but a money job at bestC
But not so hearts and not so loveT
They are the power of gold aboveT
Those who have true love known and triedU
Have every pettier want defiedU
They nestle and beneath the stormG
In their own love lie snug and warmG
They every selfish feeling smotherA
And one lives only for the otherA
-
Then Time who pulled his forelock saidM
To love and money man is wedM
And very apt are both to flout meG
And if they could would do without meG
Fools I supply the vital spaceE
In which they move and run their raceE
Without me they would be a dreamG
Behold the miser does he deemG
Those hoards are his So long no moreA
Than I am with him is the storeA
Soon from him as I pass awayK
His heir will lavish them with playK
To arts and learning matins' chimeG
Vespers and midnight seizing timeG
I never know an idle hourA
Love not more fugitive in bowerA
But I have heard coquettes complainV
That they have let the seasons waneV
Nor caught me in my flight and sorrowedM
To see the springtide was but borrowedM
Not permanent and so had wastedM
The tide of joy they never tastedM
But myriads have their time employedM
And myriads have their time enjoyedM
Why then are mortals heedless grownW
Nor care to make each hour their ownW
They should beware how we may severA
At unawares once and for everA
-
Cupid and Plutus understoodM
Old Time was man's supremest goodM
To him they yielded and confessedM
Time is of godlike blessings bestM

John Gay



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