The Dying Fox Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EEFF GGHHIIFFJJ KKIILLMMNN OOPQ| A fox was dying and he lay | A |
| In all the weakness of decay | A |
| A numerous progeny with groans | B |
| Attended to his feeble tones | B |
| - | |
| My crimes lie heavy on my soul | C |
| My sons my sons your raids control | C |
| Ah how the shrieks of murdered fowl | D |
| Environ me with stunning howl | D |
| - | |
| The hungry foxes in a ring | E |
| Looked round but saw there no such thing | E |
| This is an ecstasy of brain | F |
| We fast dear sir and wish in vain | F |
| - | |
| Gluttons restrain such wish replied | G |
| The dying fox be such defied | G |
| Inordinate desires deplore | H |
| The more you win you grieve the more | H |
| Do not the dogs betray our pace | I |
| And gins and guns destroy our race | I |
| Old age which few of us attain | F |
| Now puts a period to my pain | F |
| Would you the good name lost redeem | J |
| Live then in credit and esteem | J |
| - | |
| Good counsel marry said a fox | K |
| And quit our mountain dens and rocks | K |
| But if we quit our native place | I |
| We bear the name that marks our race | I |
| And what our ancestry have done | L |
| Descends to us from sire to son | L |
| Though we should feed like harmless lambs | M |
| We should regarded be as shams | M |
| The change would never be believed | N |
| A name lost cannot be retrieved | N |
| - | |
| The Sire replied Too true but then | O |
| Hark that's the cackle of a hen | O |
| Go but be moderate spare the brood | P |
| One chicken one might do me good | Q |
John Gay
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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