The Shepherd And The Philosopher Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEE FFGG HHIIJJKKI LLMMNNOOPPNQRRSTJJUU VVWWX YYWWNNAAZZA2A2B2B2JJ A2A2C2C2D2 NNE2E2F2F2Q| Remote from cities liv'd a swain | A |
| Unvex'd with all the cares of gain | A |
| His head was silver'd o'er with age | B |
| And long experience made him sage | B |
| In summer's heat and winter's cold | C |
| He led his flock and penn'd the fold | C |
| His hours in cheerful labour flew | D |
| Nor envy nor ambition knew | D |
| His wisdom and his honest fame | E |
| Through all the country rais'd his name | E |
| - | |
| A deep philosopher whose rules | F |
| Of moral life were drawn from schools | F |
| The shepherd's homely cottage sought | G |
| And thus explor'd his reach of thought | G |
| - | |
| 'Whence is thy learning Hath thy toil | H |
| O'er books consum'd the midnight oil | H |
| Hast thou old Greece and Rome survey'd | I |
| And the vast sense of Plato weigh'd | I |
| Hath Socrates thy soul refin'd | J |
| And hast thou fathom'd Tully's mind | J |
| Or like the wise Ulysses thrown | K |
| By various fates on realms unknown | K |
| Hast thou through many cities stray'd | I |
| Their customs laws and manners weigh'd ' | - |
| - | |
| The shepherd modestly replied | L |
| 'I ne'er the paths of learning tried | L |
| Nor have I roam'd in foreign parts | M |
| To read mankind their laws and arts | M |
| For man is practis'd in disguise | N |
| HE cheats the most discerning eyes | N |
| Who by that search shall wiser grow | O |
| By that ourselves we never know | O |
| The little knowledge I have gain'd | P |
| Was all from simple nature drain'd | P |
| Hence my life's maxims took their rise | N |
| Hence grew my settled hate to vice | Q |
| The daily labours of the bee | R |
| Awake my soul to industry | R |
| Who can observe the careful ant | S |
| And not provide for future want | T |
| My dog the trustiest of his kind | J |
| With gratitude inflames my mind | J |
| I mark his true his faithful way | U |
| And in my service copy Tray | U |
| In constancy and nuptial love | V |
| I learn my duty from the dove | V |
| The hen who from the chilly air | W |
| With pious wing protects her care | W |
| And ev'ry fowl that flies at large | X |
| Instructs me in a parent's charge ' | - |
| - | |
| 'From nature too I take my rule | Y |
| To shun contempt and ridicule | Y |
| I never with important air | W |
| In conversation overbear | W |
| Can grave and formal pass for wise | N |
| When men the solemn owl despise | N |
| My tongue within my lips I rein | A |
| For who talks much must talk in vain | A |
| We from the wordy torrent fly | Z |
| Who listens to the chatt'ring pye | Z |
| Nor would I with felonious flight | A2 |
| By stealth invade my neighbour's right | A2 |
| Rapacious animals we hate | B2 |
| Kites hawks and wolves deserve their fate | B2 |
| Do not we just abhorrence find | J |
| Against the toad and serpent kind | J |
| But envy calumny and spite | A2 |
| Bear stronger venom in their bite | A2 |
| Thus ev'ry object of creation | C2 |
| Can furnish hints to contemplation | C2 |
| And from the most minute and mean | D2 |
| A virtuous mind can morals glean ' | - |
| - | |
| 'Thy fame is just ' the sage replies | N |
| 'Thy virtue proves thee truly wise | N |
| Pride often guides the author's pen | E2 |
| Books as affected are as men | E2 |
| But he who studies nature's laws | F2 |
| From certain truth his maxims draws | F2 |
| And those without our schools suffice | Q |
| To make men moral good and wise ' | - |
John Gay
(1)
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