The Fable Of Midas Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHGGAA IIJJKKLLMMKKNNOOPPQR SSTTUUAAVVWWXXYYZZA2 A2RRB2B2C2C2D2D2E2F2 SSKKG2G2G2G2H2H2G2G2| Midas we are in story told | A |
| Turn'd every thing he touch'd to gold | A |
| He chipp'd his bread the pieces round | B |
| Glitter'd like spangles on the ground | B |
| A codling ere it went his lip in | C |
| Would straight become a golden pippin | C |
| He call'd for drink you saw him sup | D |
| Potable gold in golden cup | D |
| His empty paunch that he might fill | E |
| He suck'd his victuals thro' a quill | E |
| Untouch'd it pass'd between his grinders | F |
| Or't had been happy for gold finders | F |
| He cock'd his hat you would have said | G |
| Mambrino's helm adorn'd his head | G |
| Whene'er he chanced his hands to lay | H |
| On magazines of corn or hay | H |
| Gold ready coin'd appear'd instead | G |
| Of paltry provender and bread | G |
| Hence we are by wise farmers told | A |
| Old hay is equal to old gold | A |
| And hence a critic deep maintains | I |
| We learn'd to weigh our gold by grains | I |
| This fool had got a lucky hit | J |
| And people fancied he had wit | J |
| Two gods their skill in music tried | K |
| And both chose Midas to decide | K |
| He against Ph oelig bus' harp decreed | L |
| And gave it for Pan's oaten reed | L |
| The god of wit to show his grudge | M |
| Clapt asses' ears upon the judge | M |
| A goodly pair erect and wide | K |
| Which he could neither gild nor hide | K |
| And now the virtue of his hands | N |
| Was lost among Pactolus' sands | N |
| Against whose torrent while he swims | O |
| The golden scurf peels off his limbs | O |
| Fame spreads the news and people travel | P |
| From far to gather golden gravel | P |
| Midas exposed to all their jeers | Q |
| Had lost his art and kept his ears | R |
| This tale inclines the gentle reader | S |
| To think upon a certain leader | S |
| To whom from Midas down descends | T |
| That virtue in the fingers' ends | T |
| What else by perquisites are meant | U |
| By pensions bribes and three per cent | U |
| By places and commissions sold | A |
| And turning dung itself to gold | A |
| By starving in the midst of store | V |
| As t'other Midas did before | V |
| None e'er did modern Midas chuse | W |
| Subject or patron of his muse | W |
| But found him thus their merit scan | X |
| That Phoebus must give place to Pan | X |
| He values not the poet's praise | Y |
| Nor will exchange his plums for bays | Y |
| To Pan alone rich misers call | Z |
| And there's the jest for Pan is ALL | Z |
| Here English wits will be to seek | A2 |
| Howe'er 'tis all one in the Greek | A2 |
| Besides it plainly now appears | R |
| Our Midas too has ass's ears | R |
| Where every fool his mouth applies | B2 |
| And whispers in a thousand lies | B2 |
| Such gross delusions could not pass | C2 |
| Thro' any ears but of an ass | C2 |
| But gold defiles with frequent touch | D2 |
| There's nothing fouls the hand so much | D2 |
| And scholars give it for the cause | E2 |
| Of British Midas' dirty paws | F2 |
| Which while the senate strove to scour | S |
| They wash'd away the chemic power | S |
| While he his utmost strength applied | K |
| To swim against this popular tide | K |
| The golden spoils flew off apace | G2 |
| Here fell a pension there a place | G2 |
| The torrent merciless imbibes | G2 |
| Commissions perquisites and bribes | G2 |
| By their own weight sunk to the bottom | H2 |
| Much good may't do 'em that have caught 'em | H2 |
| And Midas now neglected stands | G2 |
| With ass's ears and dirty hands | G2 |
Jonathan Swift
(1)
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About The Fable Of Midas
The Fable Of Midas is a poem by Jonathan Swift. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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