Ode Xiii: On Lyric Poetry Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFFGHHG AIJIJKKLMML ANONOECPQQR ASTSUVVWXYZ AJCJEA2A2B2VVB2 AC2D2C2D2VVKE2E2L AF2BF2DVVUG2G2U AVKVKEEUKKU AH2G2I2G2VVKJ2J2K UVK2VK2UULEEL UH2VI2VMML2EEL2 UB2VB2VDBVWWVI | A |
Once more I join the Thespian choir | B |
And taste the inspiring fount again | C |
O parent of the Grecian lyre | D |
Admit me to thy powerful strain | E |
And lo with ease my step invades | F |
The pathless vale and opening shades | F |
Till now I spy her verdant seat | G |
And now at large i drink the sound | H |
While these her offspring listening round | H |
By turns her melody repeat | G |
- | |
I | A |
I see Anacreon smile and sing | I |
His silver tresses breathe perfume | J |
His cheek displays a second spring | I |
Of roses taught by wine to bloom | J |
Away deceitful cares away | K |
And let me listen to his lay | K |
Let me the wanton pomp injoy | L |
While in smooth dance the light wing'd Hours | M |
Lead round his lyre it's patron powers | M |
Kind laughter and convivial joy | L |
- | |
I | A |
Broke from the fetters of his native land | N |
Devoting shame and vengeance to her lords | O |
With louder impulse and a threatening hand | N |
The Lesbian patriot smites the sounding chords | O |
Ye wretches ye perfidious train | E |
Ye curs'd of gods and freeborn men | C |
Ye murderers of the laws | P |
Though now ye glory in your lust | Q |
Though now ye tread the feeble neck in dust | Q |
Yet Time and righteous Jove will judge your dreadful cause | R |
- | |
II | A |
But lo to Sappho's melting airs | S |
Descends the radiant queen of love | T |
She smiles and asks what fonder cares | S |
Her suppliant's plaintive measures move | U |
Why is my faithful maid distress'd | V |
Who Sappho wounds thy tender breast | V |
Say flies he Soon he shall pursue | W |
Shuns he thy gifts He soon shall give | X |
Slights he thy sorrows He shall grieve | Y |
And soon to all thy wishes bow | Z |
- | |
II | A |
But o Melpomene for whom | J |
Awakes thy golden shell again | C |
What mortal breath shall e'er presume | J |
To echo that unbounded strain | E |
Majestic in the frown of years | A2 |
Behold the man of Thebes appears | A2 |
For some there are whose mighty frame | B2 |
The hand of Jove at birth indow'd | V |
With hopes that mock the gazing crowd | V |
As eagles drink the noontide flame | B2 |
- | |
II | A |
While the dim raven beats her weary wings | C2 |
And clamours far below Propitious Muse | D2 |
While I so late unlock thy purer springs | C2 |
And breathe whate'er thy ancient airs infuse | D2 |
Wilt thou for Albion's sons around | V |
Ne'er had'st thou audience more renown'd | V |
Thy charming arts imploy | K |
As when the winds from shore to shore | E2 |
Through Greece thy lyre's persuasive language bore | E2 |
Till towns and isles and seas return'd the vocal joy | L |
- | |
III | A |
Yet then did pleasure's lawless throng | F2 |
Oft rushing forth in loose attire | B |
Thy virgin dance thy graceful song | F2 |
Pollute with impious revels dire | D |
O fair o chaste thy echoing shade | V |
May no soul discord here invade | V |
Nor let thy strings one accent move | U |
Except what earth's untroubled ear | G2 |
'Mid all her social tribes may hear | G2 |
And heaven's unerring throne approve | U |
- | |
III | A |
Queen of the lyre in thy retreat | V |
The fairest flowers of Pindus glow | K |
The vine aspires to crown thy seat | V |
And myrtles round thy laurel grow | K |
Thy strings adapt their varied strain | E |
To every pleasure every pain | E |
Which mortal tribes were born to prove | U |
And strait our passions rise or fall | K |
As at the wind's imperious call | K |
The ocean swells the billows move | U |
- | |
III | A |
When midnight listens o'er the slumbering earth | H2 |
Let me o Muse thy solemn whispers hear | G2 |
When morning sends her fragrant breezes forth | I2 |
With airy murmurs touch my opening ear | G2 |
And ever watchful at thy side | V |
Let wisdom's awful suffrage guide | V |
The tenor of thy lay | K |
To her of old by Jove was given | J2 |
To judge the various deeds of earth and heaven | J2 |
'Twas thine by gentle arts to win us to her sway | K |
- | |
IV | U |
Oft as to well earn'd ease resign'd | V |
I quit the maze where science toils | K2 |
Do thou refresh my yielding mind | V |
With all thy gay delusive spoils | K2 |
But o indulgent come not nigh | U |
The busy steps the jealous eye | U |
Of wealthy care or gainful age | L |
Whose barren souls thy joys disdain | E |
And hold as foes to reason's reign | E |
Whome'er thy lovely works engage | L |
- | |
IV | U |
When friendship and when letter'd mirth | H2 |
Haply partake my simple board | V |
Then let thy blameless hand call forth | I2 |
The music of the Teian chord | V |
Or if invok'd at softer hours | M |
O seek with me the happy bowers | M |
That hear Olympia's gentle tongue | L2 |
To beauty link'd with virtue's train | E |
To love devoid of jealous pain | E |
There let the Sapphic lute be strung | L2 |
- | |
IV | U |
But when from envy and from death to claim | B2 |
A hero bleeding for his native land | V |
When to throw incense on the vestal flame | B2 |
Of liberty my genius gives command | V |
Nor Theban voice nor Lesbian lyre | D |
From thee o Muse do I require | B |
While my presaging mind | V |
Conscious of powers she never knew | W |
Astonish'd grasps at things beyond her view | W |
Nor by another's fate submits to be confin'd | V |
Mark Akenside
(1)
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