News From Parnassus By Dr. Delany Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCDDEEFFGGHIJJKKLL MMNNOOPPQQRRSSTTUUHV WWFFSSDDXXYYZZSSA2A2 DDPPB2C2NNSSKKC2C2D2 D2| OCCASIONED BY APOLLO TO THE DEAN | A |
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| Parnassus February the twenty seventh | B |
| The poets assembled here on the eleventh | B |
| Convened by Apollo who gave them to know | C |
| He'd have a vicegerent in his empire below | C |
| But declared that no bard should this honour inherit | D |
| Till the rest had agreed he surpass'd them in merit | D |
| Now this you'll allow was a difficult case | E |
| For each bard believed he'd a right to the place | E |
| So finding the assembly grow warm in debate | F |
| He put them in mind of his Phaethon's fate | F |
| 'Twas urged to no purpose disputes higher rose | G |
| Scarce Phoebus himself could their quarrels compose | G |
| Till at length he determined that every bard | H |
| Should each in his turn be patiently heard | I |
| First one who believed he excell'd in translation | J |
| Founds his claim on the doctrine of man's transmigration | J |
| Since the soul of great Milton was given to me | K |
| I hope the convention will quickly agree | K |
| Agree quoth Apollo from whence is this fool | L |
| Is he just come from reading Pythagoras at school | L |
| Begone sir you've got your subscriptions in time | M |
| And given in return neither reason nor rhyme | M |
| To the next says the God Though now I won't chuse you | N |
| I'll tell you the reason for which I refuse you | N |
| Love's Goddess has oft to her parents complain'd | O |
| Of my favouring a bard who her empire disdain'd | O |
| That at my instigation a poem you writ | P |
| Which to beauty and youth preferr'd judgment and wit | P |
| That to make you a Laureate I gave the first voice | Q |
| Inspiring the Britons t'approve of my choice | Q |
| Jove sent her to me her power to try | R |
| The Goddess of Beauty what God can deny | R |
| She forbids your preferment I grant her desire | S |
| Appease the fair Goddess you then may rise higher | S |
| The next that appear'd had good hopes of succeeding | T |
| For he merited much for his wit and his breeding | T |
| 'Twas wise in the Britons no favour to show him | U |
| He else might expect they should pay what they owe him | U |
| And therefore they prudently chose to discard | H |
| The Patriot whose merits they would not reward | V |
| The God with a smile bade his favourite advance | W |
| You were sent by Astraea her envoy to France | W |
| You bend your ambition to rise in the state | F |
| I refuse you because you could stoop to be great | F |
| Then a bard who had been a successful translator | S |
| The convention allows me a versificator | S |
| Says Apollo You mention the least of your merit | D |
| By your works it appears you have much of my spirit | D |
| I esteem you so well that to tell you the truth | X |
| The greatest objection against you's your youth | X |
| Then be not concern'd you are now laid aside | Y |
| If you live you shall certainly one day preside | Y |
| Another low bending Apollo thus greets | Z |
| 'Twas I taught your subjects to walk through the streets | Z |
| You taught them to walk why they knew it before | S |
| But give me the bard that can teach them to soar | S |
| Whenever he claims 'tis his right I'll confess | A2 |
| Who lately attempted my style with success | A2 |
| Who writes like Apollo has most of his spirit | D |
| And therefore 'tis just I distinguish his merit | D |
| Who makes it appear by all he has writ | P |
| His judgment alone can set bounds to his wit | P |
| Like Virgil correct with his own native ease | B2 |
| But excels even Virgil in elegant praise | C2 |
| Who admires the ancients and knows 'tis their due | N |
| Yet writes in a manner entirely new | N |
| Though none with more ease their depths can explore | S |
| Yet whatever he wants he takes from my store | S |
| Though I'm fond of his virtues his pride I can see | K |
| In scorning to borrow from any but me | K |
| It is owing to this that like Cynthia his lays | C2 |
| Enlighten the world by reflecting my rays | C2 |
| This said the whole audience soon found out his drift | D2 |
| The convention was summon'd in favour of SWIFT | D2 |
Jonathan Swift
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