Vulture, Sparrow, And Birds Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCC DDEFGGHH IIJJHHKK HHHHLLMMHHNNOOPPQLHH RSTTHHTTUUHHVVWWHH XXYYZA2HHB2B2HHHHHHC 2C2C2C2D2MTT HHBBHH

Ere I begin I must premiseA
Our ministers are good and wiseB
Therefore if tongues malicious flyC
Or what care they or what care IC
-
If I am free with courts and skittishD
I ne'er presume to mean the BritishD
I meddle with no state affairsE
But spare my jest and save my earsF
And our court schemes are too profoundG
For Machiavel himself to soundG
A captious fool may feel offendedH
They are by me uncomprehendedH
-
Your younger brother wants a placeI
That's many a younger brother's caseI
You likewise tell me he intendsJ
To try the court and beat up friendsJ
I trust he may a patriot findH
True to his king and to mankindH
And true to merit to your brother'sK
And then he need not teaze us othersK
-
You praise his probity and witH
No doubt I doubt them not a whitH
Ah may our patriot have them tooH
And if both clash why things may doH
For I have heard oh Heaven defend usL
For I'll not hold it might not mend usL
That ministers high as yon steepleM
Have trodden low law king and peopleM
When virtue from preferment barredH
Gets nothing save its own regardH
Courtiers a set of knaves attend themN
And arrogance well recommends themN
Who flatter them defame their foesO
To lull the ministerial woesO
And if projectors fire a brainP
South Sea or silver mines in SpainP
The broker's ready in a triceQ
To satisfy e'en avariceL
A courtier's conscience must be pliantH
He must go on nor be defiantH
Through thick and thin o'er stock and stoneR
Or else bye bye the post is goneS
Since plagues like these as storms may lowerT
And favourites fall as falls the flowerT
Good principles should not be steadyH
That is at court but ever readyH
To veer as veers the vane each hourT
Around the ministry in powerT
For they you know they must have toolsU
And if they can't get knaves get foolsU
Ah let me shun the public hateH
And flee the guilt of guilty stateH
Give me kind Heaven a private stationV
A mind serene for contemplationV
And if bright honour may be mineW
Profit and title I resignW
Now read my fable and in shortH
Go if you will then go to courtH
-
In days of yore for cautious rhymesX
Should aye eschew the present timesX
A greedy vulture skilled in preyingY
Approached the throne his wings displayingY
And at the royal eagle's earZ
Burthens of state proposed to bearA2
Behold him minister of stateH
Behold his feathered throng awaitH
Behold them granting posts and placesB2
Concordant with their worth and racesB2
The nightingales were all turned outH
And daws put in These birds no doubtH
The vulture said are the most fitH
Both for capacity and witH
And very docile they will doH
My business as I wish them toH
And hawk the hawk is a good fellowC2
And chanticleer with cockscomb yellowC2
But all the ravens they must goC2
Pry in futurities you knowC2
That will not do to baffle allD2
With truth for the apocryphalM
No jays and pies will do far betterT
They talk by rote nor know a letterT
-
A sparrow on the housetop heardH
The sparrow is a knowing birdH
If rogues unto preferments riseB
I ask nor place nor seignoriesB
To the thatched cottage I to findH
From courts afar my peace of mindH

John Gay



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Vulture, Sparrow, And Birds poem by John Gay


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 8 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets