To A Young Lady, With Some Lampreys Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCCCDDCCEEFGGGDD GGGGHHGGIIJJKKGGCCJA GGLLGGGGCCJJMM| With lovers twas of old the fashion | A |
| By presents to convey their passion | A |
| No matter what the gift they sent | B |
| The Lady saw that love was meant | B |
| Fair Atalanta as a favour | C |
| Took the boar s head her Hero gave her | C |
| Nor could the bristly thing affront her | C |
| Twas a fit present from a hunter | C |
| When Squires send woodcocks to the dame | D |
| It serves to show their absent flame | D |
| Some by a snip of woven hair | C |
| In posied lockets bribe the fair | C |
| How many mercenary matches | E |
| Have sprung from Di mond rings and watches | E |
| But hold a ring a watch a locket | F |
| Would drain at once a Poet s pocket | G |
| He should send songs that cost him nought | G |
| Nor ev n he prodigal of thought | G |
| Why then send Lampreys fye for shame | D |
| Twill set a virgin s blood on flame | D |
| This to fifteen a proper gift | G |
| It might lend sixty five a lift | G |
| I know your maiden Aunt will scold | G |
| And think my present somewhat bold | G |
| I see her lift her hands and eyes | H |
| What eat it Niece eat Spanish flies | H |
| Lamprey s a most immodest diet | G |
| You ll neither wake nor sleep in quiet | G |
| Should I to night eat Sago cream | I |
| Twould make me blush to tell my dream | I |
| If I eat Lobster tis so warming | J |
| That ev ry man I see looks charming | J |
| Wherefore had not the filthy fellow | K |
| Laid Rochester upon your pillow | K |
| I vow and swear I think the present | G |
| Had been as modest and as decent | G |
| Who has her virtue in her power | C |
| Each day has its unguarded hour | C |
| Always in danger of undoing | J |
| A prawn a shrimp may prove our ruin | A |
| The shepherdess who lives on salad | G |
| To cool her youth controuls her palate | G |
| Should Dian s maids turn liqu rish livers | L |
| And of huge lampreys rob the rivers | L |
| Then all beside each glade and Visto | G |
| You d see Nymphs lying like Calisto | G |
| The man who meant to heat your blood | G |
| Needs not himself such vicious food | G |
| In this I own your Aunt is clear | C |
| I sent you what I well might spare | C |
| For when I see you without joking | J |
| Your eyes lips breasts are so provoking | J |
| They set my heart more cock a hoop | M |
| Than could whole seas of craw fish soupe | M |
John Gay
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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