Plutus, Cupid, And Time Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDEEAAEEFA GGAAHHEE HHEEIIJJKKEEAALLEE EEMMAAHH NOAAPPQQ AAEERREEEEJJEE EEAASSCCTTUUGGAA MMGGEEGGAAKKGGAAVVMM MMMMWWAA MMMMOf all the burthens mortals bear | A |
Time is most galling and severe | B |
Beneath his grievous load oppressed | C |
We daily meet a man distressed | C |
I've breakfasted and what to do | D |
I do not know we dine at two | D |
He takes a pamphlet or the papers | E |
But neither can dispel his vapours | E |
He raps his snuff box hums an air | A |
He lolls or changes now his chair | A |
He sips his tea or bites his nails | E |
Then finds a chum and then bewails | E |
Unto his sympathising ear | F |
The burthen they have both to bear | A |
- | |
I wish all hours were post meridiem | G |
Said Tom so that I were well rid of 'm | G |
Why won't men play piquet and ombre | A |
Before the evening hour grows sombre | A |
The women do it play quadrille | H |
Morning and evening when they will | H |
They cast away the spleen and vapours | E |
By daylight as by midnight tapers | E |
- | |
My case is different said Will | H |
I have the means but lack the skill | H |
I am a courtier in attendance | E |
And sleep the time out in dependence | E |
I should have been until the dark | I |
But for this rain now in the park | I |
And then at court till coming night | J |
Puts court and all my cares to flight | J |
Then comes my dinner then away | K |
From wine unto the stupid play | K |
Till ten o'clock and then assemblies | E |
And so my time which you contemn flies | E |
I like to ramble midst the fair | A |
And nothing I find vexes there | A |
Save that time flies and then the club | L |
Gives men their supper and their rub | L |
And there we all enjoy ourselves | E |
Till slumber lays us on her shelves | E |
- | |
My worthy friends Time which devours | E |
Eats up the demons passing hours | E |
Were you to books or business bred | M |
Too fleetly then would they be sped | M |
For time is fugitive as air | A |
Now lay aside your spleen or care | A |
And listen unto me and fable | H |
That is to say if you are able | H |
- | |
Plutus one morn met Master Cupid | N |
They stood a moment as though stupid | O |
Until they recognised each other | A |
They complimented with some pother | A |
When Time overtook them in his walk | P |
And then all three fell into talk | P |
Of what each one had done for man | Q |
And Plutus purse proud he began | Q |
- | |
Let kings or cobblers for that matter | A |
Tell of the gifts which we bespatter | A |
Deem ye that loyalty encumbers | E |
The congregated courtly numbers | E |
Be undeceived the strongest hold | R |
Man has on fellow man is gold | R |
Knaves have led senates swayed debates | E |
Enriched themselves and beggared states | E |
Flatter yourselves no more 'tis riches | E |
The depth of pocket of the breeches | E |
That rules the roast Unhappy wight | J |
Is the poor soul with pocket light | J |
His solitary day descends | E |
Quite unencumbered by his friends | E |
- | |
Of human hearts and of their yearnings | E |
Said Cupid I have some discernings | E |
And own the power of gold Its power | A |
Added to beauty as its dower | A |
Has oftentimes there's no disputing | S |
Added a charm was passed confuting | S |
Ay marriage as has been professed | C |
Is but a money job at best | C |
But not so hearts and not so love | T |
They are the power of gold above | T |
Those who have true love known and tried | U |
Have every pettier want defied | U |
They nestle and beneath the storm | G |
In their own love lie snug and warm | G |
They every selfish feeling smother | A |
And one lives only for the other | A |
- | |
Then Time who pulled his forelock said | M |
To love and money man is wed | M |
And very apt are both to flout me | G |
And if they could would do without me | G |
Fools I supply the vital space | E |
In which they move and run their race | E |
Without me they would be a dream | G |
Behold the miser does he deem | G |
Those hoards are his So long no more | A |
Than I am with him is the store | A |
Soon from him as I pass away | K |
His heir will lavish them with play | K |
To arts and learning matins' chime | G |
Vespers and midnight seizing time | G |
I never know an idle hour | A |
Love not more fugitive in bower | A |
But I have heard coquettes complain | V |
That they have let the seasons wane | V |
Nor caught me in my flight and sorrowed | M |
To see the springtide was but borrowed | M |
Not permanent and so had wasted | M |
The tide of joy they never tasted | M |
But myriads have their time employed | M |
And myriads have their time enjoyed | M |
Why then are mortals heedless grown | W |
Nor care to make each hour their own | W |
They should beware how we may sever | A |
At unawares once and for ever | A |
- | |
Cupid and Plutus understood | M |
Old Time was man's supremest good | M |
To him they yielded and confessed | M |
Time is of godlike blessings best | M |
John Gay
(1)
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