The Fan : A Poem. Book I. Poem Rhyme Scheme

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I sing that graceful toy whose waving play	A
With gentle gales relieves the sultry day	A
Not the wide fan by Persian dames display'd	B
Which o'er their beauty casts a grateful shade	B
Nor that long known in China's artful land	C
Which while it cools the face fatigues the hand	C
Nor shall the muse in Asian climates rove	D
To seek in Indostan some spicy grove	D
Where stretch'd at ease the panting lady lies	E
To shun the fervour of meridian skies	E
While sweating slaves catch every breeze of air	F
And with wide spreading fans refresh the fair	F
No busy gnats her pleasing dreams molest	G
Inflame her cheek or ravage o'er her breast	G
But artificial zephyrs round her fly	H
And mitigate the fever of the sky	H
	-
Nor shall Bermudas long the muse detain	I
Whose fragrant forests bloom in Waller's strain	I
Where breathing sweets from every field ascend	J
And the wild woods with golden apples bend	J
Yet let me in some odorous shade repose	K
Whilst in my verse the fair Palmetto grows	K
Like the tall pine it shoots its stately head	L
From the broad top depending branches spread	L
No knotty limbs the taper body bears	M
Hung on each bough a single leaf appears	N
Which shrivell'd in its infancy remains	O
Like a clos'd fan nor stretches wide its veins	O
But as the seasons in their circle run	P
Opes its ribb'd surface to the nearer sun	P
Beneath this shade the weary peasant lies	E
Plucks the broad leaf and bids the breezes rise	E
Stay wandering muse nor rove in foreign climes	Q
To thy own native shore confine thy rhymes	Q
Assist ye Nine your loftiest notes employ	R
Say what celestial skill contriv'd the toy	R
Say how this instrument of love began	S
And in immortal strains display the fan	S
	-
Strephon had long confest his amorous pain	I
Which gay Corinna rally'd with disdain	I
Sometimes in broken words he sigh'd his care	F
Look'd pale and trembled when he view'd the fair	F
With bolder freedoms now the youth advanc'd	T
He dress'd he laugh'd he sung he rhym'd he danc'd	T
Now call'd more powerful presents to his aid	B
And to seduce the mistress brib'd the maid	B
Smooth flattery in her softer hours apply'd	B
The surest charm to bind the force of pride	B
But still unmov'd remains the scornful dame	U
Insults her captive and derides his flame	U
When Strephon saw his vows dispers'd in air	F
He sought in solitude to lose his care	F
Relief in solitude he sought in vain	I
It serv'd like music but to feed his pain	I
To Venus now the slighted boy complains	O
And calls the goddess in these tender strains	O
	-
O potent queen from Neptune's empire sprung	V
Whose glorious birth admiring Nereids sung	V
Who 'midst the fragrant plains of Cyprus rove	D
Whose radiant presence gilds the Paphian grove	D
And curling clouds of incense hide the skies	E
O beauteous goddess teach me how to move	W
Inspire my tongue with eloquence of love	X
If lost Adonis e'er thy bosom warm'd	B
If e'er his eyes or godlike figure charm'd	B
Think on those hours when first you felt the dart	B
Think how you pin'd in absense of the swain	I
By those uneasy minutes know my pain	I
Even while Cydippe to Diana bows	Y
And at her shrine renews her virgin vows	Y
The lover taught by thee her pride o'ercame	U
She reads his oaths and feels an equal flame	U
Oh may my flame like thine Acontius prove	W
May Venus dictate and reward my love	X
When crowds of suitors Atlanta try'd	B
She wealth and beauty wit and fame defy'd	B
Each daring lover with advent'rous pace	Z
Pursu'd his wishes in the dangerous race	Z
Like the swift hind the bounding damsel flies	E
Strains to the goal the distanc'd lover dies	E
Hippomenes O Venus was thy care	F
You taught the swain to stay the flying fair	F
Thy golden present caught the virgin's eyes	E
She stoops he rushes on and gains the prize	E
Say Cyprian deity what gift what art	B
Shall humble into love Corinna's heart	B
If only some bright toy can charm her sight	B
Teach me what present may suspend her flight	B
	-
Thus the desponding youth his flame declares	M
The goddess with a nod his passion hears	A2
	-
Far in Cytherea stands a spacious grove	D
Sacred to Venus and the god of love	X
Here the luxuriant myrtle rears her head	B
Like the tall oak the fragrant branches spread	B
Here nature all her sweets profusely pours	B2
And paints the enamell'd ground with various flowers	C2
Deep in the gloomy shade a grotto bends	D2
Wide thro' the craggy rock an arch extends	D2
The rugged stone is cloth'd with mantling vines	E2
And round the cave the creeping woodbine twines	E2
	-
Here busy Cupids with pernicious art	B
Form the stiff bow and forge the fatal dart	B
All share the toil while some the bellows ply	H
Others with feathers teach the shafts to fly	H
Some with joint force whirl round the stony wheel	F2
Where streams the sparkling fire from temper'd steel	F2
Some point their arrows with the nicest skill	G2
And with the warlike store their quivers fill	G2
	-
A different toil another forge employs	E2
Here the loud hammer fashions female toys	E2
Hence is the fair with ornament supply'd	B
Hence sprung the glittering implements of pride	B
Each trinket that adorns the modern dame	U
First to these little artists ow'd its frame	U
Here an unfinish'd diamond crosslet lay	A
To which soft lovers adoration pay	A
There was the pollish'd crystal bottle seen	H2
That with quick scents revives the modish spleen	H2
Here the yet rude unjointed snuff box lies	E2
Which serves the rally'd fop for smart replies	E2
There piles of paper rose in glided reams	E2
The future records of the lover's flames	E2
Here clouded canes 'midst heaps of toys are found	B
And inlaid tweezer cases strow the ground	B
There stands the toilette nursery of charms	E2
Completely furnish'd with bright beauty's arms	E2
The patch the powder box pulville perfumes	E2
Pins paints a flattering glass and black lead combs	E2
	-
The toilsome hours in different labour slide	B
Some work the file and some the graver guide	B
From the loud anvil the quick blow rebounds	E2
And their rais'd arms descend in tuneful sounds	E2
Thus when Semiramis in ancient days	E2
Bade Babylon her mighty bulwarks raise	E2
A swarm of labourers different tasks attend	B
Here pullies make the pond'rous oak ascend	B
With echoing strokes the cragged quarry groans	E2
While there the chissel forms the shapeless stones	E2
The weighty mallet deals resounding blows	E2
Till the proud battlements her towers enclose	E2
	-
Now Venus mounts her car she shakes the reins	E2
And steers her turtles to Cythera's plains	E2
Straight to the grot with graceful step she goes	E2
Her loose ambrosial hair behind her flows	E2
The swelling bellows heave for breath no more	I2
All drop their silent hammers on the floor	I2
In deep suspense the mighty labour stands	E2
While thus the goddess spoke her mild commands	E2
	-
Industrious Loves your present toils forbear	I2
A more important task demands your care	I2
Long has the scheme employ'd my thoughtful mind	B
By judgement ripen'd and by time refin'd	B
That glorious bird have ye not often seen	H2
Who draws the car of the celestial queen	H2
Have ye not oft survey'd his varying dyes	E2
His tall all gilded o'er with Argus' eyes	E2
have ye not seen him in the sunny day	A
Unfurl his plumes and all his pride display	A
Then suddenly contract his dazzling train	I
And with long trailing feathers sweep the plain	I
Learn from this hint let this instruct your art	B
Thin taper sticks must from one centre part	B
Let these into the quadrant's form divide	B
The spreading ribs with snowy paper bide	B
Here shall the pencil bid its colours flow	J2
And make a miniature creation grow	J2
Let the machine in equal foldings close	E2
And now its plaited surface wide dispose	E2
So shall the fair her idle hand employ	R
And grace each motion with the restless toy	R
With various play bid grateful zephyrs rise	E2
While love in ev'ry grateful zephyr flies	E2
	-
The master Cupid traces out the lines	E2
And with judicious hand the draught designs	E2
The expecting Loves with joy the model view	K2
And the joint labour eagerly p	L2

John Gay

The Fan : A Poem. Book I. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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