The Fable Of Midas.[1] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIHHBB JJKKLLMMNNLLOOPPQQRS AATTUUBBVVWWXXYYZZA2 A2SSB2B2C2C2D2D2E2F2 AALLG2G2G2G2H2H2G2G2

Collated with Stella's copy ForsterA
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Midas we are in story toldB
Turn'd every thing he touch'd to goldB
He chipp'd his bread the pieces roundC
Glitter'd like spangles on the groundC
A codling ere it went his lip inD
Would straight become a golden pippinD
He call'd for drink you saw him supE
Potable gold in golden cupE
His empty paunch that he might fillF
He suck'd his victuals thro' a quillF
Untouch'd it pass'd between his grindersG
Or't had been happy for gold findersG
He cock'd his hat you would have saidH
Mambrino's helm adorn'd his headH
Whene'er he chanced his hands to layI
On magazines of corn or hayI
Gold ready coin'd appear'd insteadH
Of paltry provender and breadH
Hence we are by wise farmers toldB
Old hay is equal to old goldB
And hence a critic deep maintainsJ
We learn'd to weigh our gold by grainsJ
This fool had got a lucky hitK
And people fancied he had witK
Two gods their skill in music triedL
And both chose Midas to decideL
He against Ph oelig bus' harp decreedM
And gave it for Pan's oaten reedM
The god of wit to show his grudgeN
Clapt asses' ears upon the judgeN
A goodly pair erect and wideL
Which he could neither gild nor hideL
And now the virtue of his handsO
Was lost among Pactolus' sandsO
Against whose torrent while he swimsP
The golden scurf peels off his limbsP
Fame spreads the news and people travelQ
From far to gather golden gravelQ
Midas exposed to all their jeersR
Had lost his art and kept his earsS
This tale inclines the gentle readerA
To think upon a certain leaderA
To whom from Midas down descendsT
That virtue in the fingers' endsT
What else by perquisites are meantU
By pensions bribes and three per centU
By places and commissions soldB
And turning dung itself to goldB
By starving in the midst of storeV
As t'other Midas did beforeV
None e'er did modern Midas chuseW
Subject or patron of his museW
But found him thus their merit scanX
That Phoebus must give place to PanX
He values not the poet's praiseY
Nor will exchange his plums for baysY
To Pan alone rich misers callZ
And there's the jest for Pan is ALLZ
Here English wits will be to seekA2
Howe'er 'tis all one in the GreekA2
Besides it plainly now appearsS
Our Midas too has ass's earsS
Where every fool his mouth appliesB2
And whispers in a thousand liesB2
Such gross delusions could not passC2
Thro' any ears but of an assC2
But gold defiles with frequent touchD2
There's nothing fouls the hand so muchD2
And scholars give it for the causeE2
Of British Midas' dirty pawsF2
Which while the senate strove to scourA
They wash'd away the chemic powerA
While he his utmost strength appliedL
To swim against this popular tideL
The golden spoils flew off apaceG2
Here fell a pension there a placeG2
The torrent merciless imbibesG2
Commissions perquisites and bribesG2
By their own weight sunk to the bottomH2
Much good may't do 'em that have caught 'emH2
And Midas now neglected standsG2
With ass's ears and dirty handsG2

Jonathan Swift



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