Hylas Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCC DEDEFF GHGHII JKJKLL MCMCNN OPOPCC QNQNRR SCGCNN GCGCHH SHSHTT UN NNN VNVNWX NFNFYY CCCCNN NNNNZZ

Not for us only Nicias vain the dreamA
Sprung from what god soe'er was Eros bornB
Not to us only grace doth graceful seemA
Frail things who wot not of the coming mornB
No for Amphitryon's iron hearted sonC
Who braved the lion was the slave of oneC
-
A fair curled creature Hylas was his nameD
He taught him as a father might his childE
All songs whereby himself had risen to fameD
Nor ever from his side would be beguiledE
When noon was high nor when white steeds conveyF
Back to heaven's gates the chariot of the dayF
-
Nor when the hen's shrill brood becomes awareG
Of bed time as the mother's flapping wingsH
Shadow the dust browned beam 'Twas all his careG
To shape unto his own imaginingsH
And to the harness train his favourite youthI
Till he became a man in very truthI
-
Meanwhile when kingly Jason steered in questJ
Of the Gold Fleece and chieftains at his sideK
Chosen from all cities proffering each her bestJ
To rich Iolchos came that warrior triedK
And joined him unto trim built Argo's crewL
And with Alcmena's son came Hylas tooL
-
Through the great gulf shot Argo like a birdM
And by and bye reached Phasis ne'er o'erta'enC
By those in rushing rocks that have not stirredM
Since then but bask twin monsters on the mainC
But now when waned the spring and lambs were fedN
In far off fields and Pleiads gleamed overheadN
-
That cream and flower of knighthood looked to sailO
They came within broad Argo safely stowedP
When for three days had blown the southern galeO
To Hellespont and in Propontis rodeP
At anchor where Cianian oxen nowC
Broaden the furrows with the busy ploughC
-
They leapt ashore and keeping rank preparedQ
Their evening meal a grassy meadow spreadN
Before their eyes and many a warrior sharedQ
Thanks to its verdurous stores one lowly bedN
And while they cut tall marigolds from their stemR
And sworded bulrush Hylas slipt from themR
-
Water the fair lad wont to seek and bringS
To Heracles and stalwart TelamonC
The comrades aye partook each other's fareG
Bearing a brazen pitcher And anonC
Where the ground dipt a fountain he espiedN
And rushes growing green about its sideN
-
There rose the sea blue swallow wort and thereG
The pale hued maidenhair with parsley greenC
And vagrant marsh flowers and a revel rareG
In the pool's midst the water nymphs were seenC
To hold those maidens of unslumbrous eyesH
Whom the belated peasant sees and fliesH
-
And fast did Malis and Eunica clingS
And young Nychea with her April faceH
To the lad's hand as stooping o'er the springS
He dipt his pitcher For the young Greek's graceH
Made their soft senses reel and down he fellT
All of a sudden into that black wellT
-
So drops a red star suddenly from skyU
To sea and quoth some sailor to his mateN
'Up with the tackle boy the breeze is high '-
Him the nymphs pillowed all disconsolateN
On their sweet laps and with soft words beguiledN
But Heracles was troubled for the childN
-
Forth went he Scythian wise his bow he boreV
And the great club that never quits his sideN
And thrice called 'Hylas' ne'er came lustier roarV
From that deep chest Thrice Hylas heard and triedN
To answer but in tones you scarce might hearW
The water made them distant though so nearX
-
And as a lion when he hears the bleatN
Of fawns among the mountains far awayF
A murderous lion and with hurrying feetN
Bounds from his lair to his predestined preyF
So plunged the strong man in the untrodden brakeY
Lovers are maniacs for his darling's sakeY
-
He scoured far fields what hill or oaken glenC
Remembers not that pilgrimage of painC
His troth to Jason was forgotten thenC
Long time the good ship tarried for those twainC
With hoisted sails night came and still they clearedN
The hatches but no Heracles appearedN
-
On he was wandering reckless where he trodN
So mad a passion on his vitals preyedN
While Hylas had become a blessed godN
But the crew cursed the runaway who had stayedN
Sixty good oars and left him there to reachZ
Afoot bleak Phasis and the Colchian beachZ

Jon Corelis Theocritus



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