The Fable Of Midas Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHGGAA IIJJKKLLMMKKNNOOPPQR SSTTUUAAVVWWXXYYZZA2 A2RRB2B2C2C2D2D2E2F2 SSKKG2G2G2G2H2H2G2G2

Midas we are in story toldA
Turn'd every thing he touch'd to goldA
He chipp'd his bread the pieces roundB
Glitter'd like spangles on the groundB
A codling ere it went his lip inC
Would straight become a golden pippinC
He call'd for drink you saw him supD
Potable gold in golden cupD
His empty paunch that he might fillE
He suck'd his victuals thro' a quillE
Untouch'd it pass'd between his grindersF
Or't had been happy for gold findersF
He cock'd his hat you would have saidG
Mambrino's helm adorn'd his headG
Whene'er he chanced his hands to layH
On magazines of corn or hayH
Gold ready coin'd appear'd insteadG
Of paltry provender and breadG
Hence we are by wise farmers toldA
Old hay is equal to old goldA
And hence a critic deep maintainsI
We learn'd to weigh our gold by grainsI
This fool had got a lucky hitJ
And people fancied he had witJ
Two gods their skill in music triedK
And both chose Midas to decideK
He against Ph oelig bus' harp decreedL
And gave it for Pan's oaten reedL
The god of wit to show his grudgeM
Clapt asses' ears upon the judgeM
A goodly pair erect and wideK
Which he could neither gild nor hideK
And now the virtue of his handsN
Was lost among Pactolus' sandsN
Against whose torrent while he swimsO
The golden scurf peels off his limbsO
Fame spreads the news and people travelP
From far to gather golden gravelP
Midas exposed to all their jeersQ
Had lost his art and kept his earsR
This tale inclines the gentle readerS
To think upon a certain leaderS
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 soldA
And turning dung itself to goldA
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 appearsR
Our Midas too has ass's earsR
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 scourS
They wash'd away the chemic powerS
While he his utmost strength appliedK
To swim against this popular tideK
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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