Upon Nothing Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AAA BCD EFE GGG HHH IJJ KKL MMM NNN MMO PPP QQQ RRR OOO OOO OOO SSS

Nothing thou elder brother even to shadeA
That hadst a being ere the world was madeA
And well fixed art alone of ending not afraidA
-
Ere time and place were time and place were notB
When primitive Nothing Something straight begotC
Then all proceeded from the great united WhatD
-
Something the general attribute of allE
Severed from thee its sole originalF
Into thy boundless self must undistinguished fallE
-
Yet Something did thy mighty power commandG
And from thy fruitful emptiness's handG
Snatched men beasts birds fire air and landG
-
Matter the wickedest offspring of thy raceH
By Form assisted flew from thy embraceH
And rebel Light obscured thy reverend dusky faceH
-
With Form and Matter Time and Place did joinI
Body thy foe with these did leagues combineJ
To spoil thy peaceful realm and ruin all thy lineJ
-
But turncoat Time assists the foe in vainK
And bribed by thee assists thy short lived reignK
And to thy hungry womb drives back thy slaves againL
-
Though mysteries are barred from laic eyesM
And the Divine alone with warrant priesM
Into thy bosom where thy truth in private liesM
-
Yet this of thee the wise may freely sayN
Thou from the virtuous nothing takest awayN
And to be part of thee the wicked wisely prayN
-
Great Negative how vainly would the wiseM
Inquire define distinguish teach deviseM
Didst thou not stand to point their dull philosophiesO
-
Is or is not the two great ends of FateP
And true or false the subject of debateP
That perfects or destroys the vast designs of FateP
-
When they have racked the politician's breastQ
Within thy bosom most securely restQ
And when reduced to thee are least unsafe and bestQ
-
But Nothing why does Something still permitR
That sacred monarchs should at council sitR
With persons highly thought at best for nothing fitR
-
While weighty Something modestly abstainsO
From princes' coffers and from statesmen's brainsO
And Nothing there like stately Nothing reignsO
-
Nothing who dwellest with fools in grave disguiseO
For whom they reverend shapes and forms deviseO
Lawn sleeves and furs and gowns when they like thee look wiseO
-
French truth Dutch prowess British policyO
Hibernian learning Scotch civilityO
Spaniard's dispatch Dane's wit are mainly seen in theeO
-
The great man's gratitude to his best friendS
King's promises whore's vows towards thee they bendS
Flow swiftly to thee and in thee never endS

John Wilmot



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