Epitaph On The Marchioness Of Winchester Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDEFFGGHHIIJKLL MNDDOOLLPPCCQQRRSSAA TTUUVWXYZZUUA2A2B2C2 UULLPPUUZZPPD2D2E2E2 F2F2This rich marble doth inter | A |
The honoured wife of Winchester | A |
A viscount's daughter an earl's heir | B |
Besides what her virtues fair | B |
Added to her noble birth | C |
More than she could own from earth | C |
Summers three times eight save one | D |
She had told alas too soon | E |
After so short time of breath | F |
To house with darkness and with death | F |
Yet had the number of her days | G |
Been as complete as was her praise | G |
Nature and Fate had had no strife | H |
In giving limit to her life | H |
Her high birth and her graces sweet | I |
Quickly found a lover meet | I |
The virgin quire for her request | J |
The god that sits at marriage feast | K |
He at their invoking came | L |
But with a scarce well lighted flame | L |
And in his garland as he stood | M |
Ye might discern a cypress bud | N |
Once had the early Matrons run | D |
To greet her of a lovely son | D |
And now with second hope she goes | O |
And calls Lucina to her throes | O |
But whether by mischance or blame | L |
Atropos for Lucina came | L |
And with remorseless cruelty | P |
Spoiled at once both fruit and tree | P |
The hapless babe before his birth | C |
Had burial yet not laid in earth | C |
And the languished mother's womb | Q |
Was not long a living tomb | Q |
So have I seen some tender slip | R |
Saved with care from Winter's nip | R |
The pride of her carnation train | S |
Plucked up by some unheedy swain | S |
Who only thought to crop the flower | A |
New shot up from vernal shower | A |
But the fair blossom hangs the head | T |
Sideways as on a dying bed | T |
And those pearls of dew she wears | U |
Prove to be presaging tears | U |
Which the sad morn had let fall | V |
On her hastening funeral | W |
Gentle Lady may thy grave | X |
Peace and quiet ever have | Y |
After this thy travail sore | Z |
Sweet rest seize thee evermore | Z |
That to give the world encrease | U |
Shortened hast thy own life's lease | U |
Here besides the sorrowing | A2 |
That thy noble House doth bring | A2 |
Here be tears of perfect moan | B2 |
Wept for thee in Helicon | C2 |
And some flowers and some bays | U |
For thy hearse to strew the ways | U |
Sent thee from the banks of Came | L |
Devoted to thy virtuous name | L |
Whilst thou bright Saint high sitt'st in glory | P |
Next her much like to thee in story | P |
That fair Syrian Shepherdess | U |
Who after years of barrenness | U |
The highly favoured Joseph bore | Z |
To him that served for her before | Z |
And at her next birth much like thee | P |
Through pangs fled to felicity | P |
Far within the bosom bright | D2 |
Of blazing Majesty and Light | D2 |
There with thee new welcome Saint | E2 |
Like fortunes may her soul acquaint | E2 |
With thee there clad in radiant sheen | F2 |
No Marchioness but now a Queen | F2 |
John Milton
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about Epitaph On The Marchioness Of Winchester poem by John Milton
Best Poems of John Milton