Ambition And Content Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEE FFGGFFHHEE IIJJAAEKLLMM NNOOPPQQRSNNNETDDDUU VVAAEEIIVVWWVVVVXX FFMMYK VVVVZZVV VVVVA2B2IIKK C2C2MD2CCVVE2HVVVVSS F2F2VVVVHHVV

While yet the world was young and men were fewA
Nor lurking fraud nor tyrant rapine knewA
In virtue rude the gaudy arts they scorn'dB
Which virtue lost degenerate times adorn'dB
No sumptuous fabrics yet were seen to riseC
Nor gushing fountains taught to invade the skiesC
With nature art had not begun the strifeD
Nor swelling marble rose to mimic lifeD
No pencil yet had learn'd to express the fairE
The bounteous earth was all their homely careE
-
Then did Content exert her genial swayF
And taught the peaceful world her power to obeyF
Content a female of celestial raceG
Bright and complete in each celestial graceG
Serenely fair she was as rising dayF
And brighter than the sun's meridian rayF
Joy of all hearts delight of every eyeH
Nor grief nor pain appear'd when she was byH
Her presence from the wretched banish'd careE
Dispers'd the swelling sigh and stopt the falling tearE
-
Long did the nymph her regal state maintainI
As long mankind were blest beneath her reignI
Till dire Ambition hellish fiend aroseJ
To plague the world and banish man's reposeJ
A monster sprung from that rebellious crewA
Which mighty Jove's Phlegr an thunder slewA
Resolv'd to dispossess the royal fairE
On all her friends he threaten'd open warK
Fond of the novelty vain fickle manL
In crowds to his infernal standard ranL
And the weak maid defenceless left aloneM
To avoid his rage was forc'd to quit the throneM
-
It chanc'd as wandering through the fields she stray'dN
Forsook of all and destitute of aidN
Upon a rising mountain's flowery sideO
A pleasant cottage roof'd with turf she spiedO
Fast by a gloomy venerable woodP
Of shady planes and ancient oaks it stoodP
Around a various prospect charm'd the sightQ
Here waving harvests clad the fields with whiteQ
Here a rough shaggy rock the clouds did pierceR
From which a torrent rush'd with rapid forceS
Here mountain woods diffus'd a dusky shadeN
Here flocks and herds in flowery valleys play'dN
While o'er the matted grass the liquid crystal stray'dN
In this sweet place there dwelt a cheerful pairE
Though bent beneath the weight of many a yearT
Who wisely flying public noise and strifeD
In this obscure retreat had pass'd their lifeD
The husband Industry was call'd Frugality the wifeD
With tenderest Friendship mutually blestU
No household jars had e'er disturb'd their restU
A numerous offspring grac'd their homely boardV
That still with Nature's simple gifts was stor'dV
The father rural business only knewA
The sons the same delightful art pursueA
An only daughter as a goddess fairE
Above the rest was the fond mother's careE
Plenty the brightest nymph of all the plainI
Each heart's delight ador'd by every swainI
Soon as Content this charming scene espiedV
Joyful within herself the goddess criedV
This happy sight my drooping heart doth raiseW
The gods I hope will grant me gentler daysW
When with prosperity my life was blestV
In yonder house I've been a welcome guestV
There now perhaps I may protection findV
For royalty is banish'd from my mindV
I'll thither haste how happy should I beX
If such a refuge were reserv'd for meX
-
Thus spoke the fair and straight she bent her wayF
To the tall mountain where the cottage layF
Arriv'd she makes her chang'd condition knownM
Tells how the rebels drove her from the throneM
What painful dreary wilds she'd wander'd o'erY
And shelter from the tyrant doth imploreK
-
The faithful aged pair at once were seiz'dV
With joy and grief at once were pain'd and pleas'dV
Grief for their banish'd queen their hearts possestV
And joy succeeded for their future guestV
And if you'll deign bright goddess here to dwellZ
And with your presence grace our humble cellZ
Whate'er the gods have given with bounteous handV
Our harvests fields and flocks our all commandV
-
Meantime Ambition on his rival's flightV
Sole lord of man attain'd his wish's heightV
Of all dependence on his subjects eas'dV
He rag'd without a curb and did whate'er he pleas'dV
As some wild flame driven on by furious windsA2
Wide spreads destruction nor resistance findsB2
So rush'd the fiend destructive o'er the plainI
Defac'd the labours of the industrious swainI
Polluted every stream with human goreK
And scatter'd plagues and death from shore to shoreK
-
Great Jove beheld it from the Olympian towersC2
Where sate assembled all the heavenly powersC2
Then with a nod that shook the empyrean throneM
Thus the Saturnian thunderer begunD2
You see immortal inmates of the skiesC
How this vile wretch almighty power defiesC
His daring crimes the blood which he has spiltV
Demand a torment equal to his guiltV
Then Cyprian goddess let thy mighty boyE2
Swift to the tyrant's guilty palace flyH
There let him choose his sharpest hottest dartV
And with his former rival wound his heartV
And thou my son the god to Hermes saidV
Snatch up thy wand and plume thy heels and headV
Dart through the yielding air with all thy forceS
And down to Pluto's realms direct thy courseS
There rouse Oblivion from her sable caveF2
Where dull she sits by Lethe's sluggish waveF2
Command her to secure the sacred boundV
Where lives Content retir'd and all aroundV
Diffuse the deepest glooms of Stygian nightV
And screen the virgin from the tyrant's sightV
That the vain purpose of his life may tryH
Still to explore what still eludes his eyeH
He spoke loud praises shake the bright abodeV
And all applaud the justice of the godV

Mark Akenside



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