The Pleasures Of Imagination - The First Book - Poem Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDCBEFBBGHBIJKLMNB OPBQPRSTUVWBXYZA2BB2 C2D2E2 BF2LXG2W H2BI2J2K2L2M2N2BO2P2 BQ2BR2G2S2ABKT2U2BV2 M2BW2X2BCH2WH2Y2Z2BB A3B3BC3D3LE3BBBF3BG3 H3BBOBPI3BJ3YWT2K3BB BL3M3C3N3BFW XO3W2PP3Q3P2A2R3S3BT 3BJ3T3U3BC3V3C2BBJ3A BRBW3X3 BY3Z3BO3BFBBA4B4BC4B C4I3BI3L3X2D4Y2BBY3E 4F4G4LH4 J3I4ZJ4BK4L4M4PN4O4P 4Q4R4 BBXC3Z3P3S4BT4BDBU4T 3XV4S2W4H3A4X4BBK2FE 2Y4VBBO3RBBZ4BBG3XP4 S3BJ2CA4T3WWBQPX3B4N 2WXJ2Q3WWA2WWN2WOBWB J3BEBS3WQBBEWBC3A2A WWWBL2WA4E4AY2Y3WA2W CWPWBWC3GBS3BZ3WXWBW GC3BBWGGBC3BBBWBWY4H WWBWBGC3WBC3BWY4WGA4 JB4WBGWBGBGL2GBB4J3G F4C3GC3WZJ3BBC3GGLBG BP2GWBC3GWQF4BWGWWWG XWWWC3CL3R4CGGA4C3B4 BL3BB GBGL3GBC3GL3M2BWWBW4 BWWWBS3L3BBBL3WJ2WBB K4WS3WWGL3L3WJ2H4BGB BWB4L3WWBQGGWJ2WBGL3 F4H4WL3BBC3CBA4BC3GW J2G L3WWWBBWWWBBL3GWL3BW WWWCBBGA4BGBQBBWL3BY 4BA4BGL3J2GWBJ2BBBBB BBWWBWWBWBBGVBBWGBGG C3BA4WC3WBBBGBH4WGWB BC3B4C3GVWWBBWWWBS3W WBWGWGBS3P2CC3L3BGWW BL3 L3BWBWL3L3S3BL3GC3WW L3C3WBWQWGBC3WL3BBGL 3WWGWWGBL3 WWBWWGWC3GWBBBGC3GWW L3WWWM2BBWY4WBJ2Y4VW GBBWBM2WL3

With what inchantment nature's goodly sceneA
Attracts the sense of mortals how the mindB
For its own eye doth objects nobler stillC
Prepare how men by various lessons learnD
To judge of beauty's praise what raptures fillC
The breast with fancy's native arts indow'dB
And what true culture guides it to renownE
My verse unfolds Ye gods or godlike powersF
Ye guardians of the sacred task attendB
Propitious Hand in hand around your bardB
Move in majestic measures leading onG
His doubtful step through many a solemn pathH
Conscious of secrets which to human sightB
Ye only can reveal Be great in himI
And let your favor make him wise to speakJ
Of all your wonderous empire with a voiceK
So temper'd to his theme that those who hearL
May yield perpetual homage to yourselvesM
Thou chief o daughter of eternal LoveN
Whate'er thy name or Muse or Grace ador'dB
By Grecian prophets to the sons of heavenO
Known while with deep amazement thou dost thereP
The perfect counsels read the ideas oldB
Of thine omniscient father known on earthQ
By the still horror and the blissful tearP
With which thou seizest on the soul of manR
Thou chief Poetic Spirit from the banksS
Of Avon whence thy holy fingers cullT
Fresh flowers and dews to sprinkle on the turfU
Where Shakespear lies be present and with theeV
Let Fiction come on her a rial wingsW
Wafting ten thousand colors which in sportB
By the light glances of her magic eyeX
She blends and shifts at will through countless formsY
Her wild creation Goddess of the lyreZ
Whose awful tones controul the moving sphereA2
Wilt thou eternal Harmony descendB
And join this happy train for with thee comesB2
The guide the guardian of their mystic ritesC2
Wise Order and where Order deigns to comeD2
Her sister Liberty will not be farE2
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Be present all ye Genii who conductB
Of youthful bards the lonely wandering stepF2
New to your springs and shades who touch their earL
With finer sounds and heighten to their eyeX
The pomp of nature and before them placeG2
The fairest loftiest countenance of thingsW
-
Nor thou my Dyson to the lay refuseH2
Thy wonted partial audience What though firstB
In years unseason'd haply ere the sportsI2
Of childhood yet were o'er the adventurous layJ2
With many splendid prospects many charmsK2
Allur'd my heart nor conscious whence they sprungL2
Nor heedful of their end yet serious truthM2
Her empire o'er the calm sequester'd themeN2
Asserted soon while falsehood's evil broodB
Vice and deceitful pleasure she at onceO2
Excluded and my fancy's careless toilP2
Drew to the better cause Maturer aidB
Thy friendship added in the paths of lifeQ2
The busy paths my unaccustom'd feetB
Preserving nor to truth's recess divineR2
Through this wide argument's unbeaten spaceG2
Witholding surer guidance while by turnsS2
We trac'd the sages old or while the queenA
Of sciences whom manners and the mindB
Acknowledge to my true companion's voiceK
Not unattentive o'er the wintry lampT2
Inclin'd her scepter favoring Now the fatesU2
Have other tasks impos'd to thee my friendB
The ministry of freedom and the faithV2
Of popular decrees in early youthM2
Not vainly they committed me they sentB
To wait on pain and silent arts to urgeW2
Inglorious not ignoble if my caresX2
To such as languish on a grievous bedB
Ease and the sweet forgetfulness of illC
Conciliate nor delightless if the MuseH2
Her shades to visit and to taste her springsW
If some distinguish'd hours the bounteous MuseH2
Impart and grant what she and she aloneY2
Can grant to mortals that my hand those wreathsZ2
Of fame and honest favor which the bless'dB
Wear in Elysium and which never feltB
The breath of envy or malignant tonguesA3
That these my hand for thee and for myselfB3
May gather Meanwhile o my faithful friendB
O early chosen ever found the sameC3
And trusted and belov'd once more the verseD3
Long destin'd always obvious to thine earL
Attend indulgent so in latest yearsE3
When time thy head with honors shall have cloth'dB
Sacred to even virtue may thy mindB
Amid the calm review of seasons pastB
Fair offices of friendship or kind peaceF3
Or public zeal may then thy mind well pleas'dB
Recall these happy studies of our primeG3
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From heaven my strains begin from heaven descendsH3
The flame of genius to the chosen breastB
And beauty with poetic wonder join'dB
And inspiration Ere the rising sunO
Shone o'er the deep or 'mid the vault of nightB
The moon her silver lamp suspended ereP
The vales with springs were water'd or with grovesI3
Of oak or pine the ancient hills were crown'dB
Then the great spirit whom his works adoreJ3
Within his own deep essence view'd the formsY
The forms eternal of created thingsW
The radiant sun the moon's nocturnal lampT2
The mountains and the streams the ample storesK3
Of earth of heaven of nature From the firstB
On that full scene his love divine he fix'dB
His admiration till in time compleatB
What he admir'd and lov'd his vital powerL3
Unfolded into being Hence the breathM3
Of life informing each organic frameC3
Hence the green earth and wild resounding wavesN3
Hence light and shade alternate warmth and coldB
And bright autumnal skies and vernal showersF
And all the fair variety of thingsW
-
But not alike to every mortal eyeX
Is this great scene unveil'd For while the claimsO3
Of social life to different labours urgeW2
The active powers of man with wisest careP
Hath nature on the multitude of mindsP3
Impress'd a various bias and to eachQ3
Decreed its province in the common toilP2
To some she taught the fabric of the sphereA2
The changeful moon the circuit of the starsR3
The golden zones of heaven to some she gaveS3
To search the story of eternal thoughtB
Of space and time of fate's unbroken chainT3
And will's quick movement others by the handB
She led o'er vales and mountains to exploreJ3
What healing virtue dwells in every veinT3
Of herbs or trees But some to nobler hopesU3
Were destin'd some within a finer mouldB
She wrought and temper'd with a purer flameC3
To these the sire omnipotent unfoldsV3
In fuller aspects and with fairer lightsC2
This picture of the world Through every partB
They trace the lofty sketches of his handB
In earth or air the meadow's flowery storeJ3
The moon's mild radiance or the virgin's mienA
Dress'd in attractive smiles they see portray'dB
As far as mortal eyes the portrait scanR
Those lineaments of beauty which delightB
The mind supreme They also feel their forceW3
Inamor'd they partake the eternal joyX3
-
For as old Memnon's image long renown'dB
Through fabling Egypt at the genial touchY3
Of morning from its inmost frame sent forthZ3
Spontaneous music so doth nature's handB
To certain attributes which matter claimsO3
Adapt the finer organs of the mindB
So the glad impulse of those kindred powersF
Of form of colour's cheerful pomp of soundB
Melodious or of motion aptly spedB
Detains the inliven'd sense till soon the soulA4
Feels the deep concord and assents through allB4
Her functions Then the charm by fate prepar'dB
Diffuseth its inchantment fancy dreamsC4
Rapt into high discourse with prophets oldB
And wandering through Elysium fancy dreamsC4
Of sacred fountains of o'ershadowing grovesI3
Whose walks with godlike harmony resoundB
Fountains which Homer visits happy grovesI3
Where Milton dwells the intellectual powerL3
On the mind's throne suspends his graver caresX2
And smiles the passions to divine reposeD4
Persuaded yield and love and joy aloneY2
Are waking love and joy such as awaitB
An angel's meditation O attendB
Whoe'er thou art whom these delights can touchY3
Whom nature's aspect nature's simple garbE4
Can thus command o listen to my songF4
And I will guide thee to her blissful walksG4
And teach thy solitude her voice to hearL
And point her gracious features to thy viewH4
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Know then whate'er of the world's ancient storeJ3
Whate'er of mimic art's reflected scenesI4
With love and admiration thus inspireZ
Attentive fancy her delighted sonsJ4
In two illustrious orders comprehendB
Self taught from him whose rustic toil the larkK4
Cheers warbling to the bard whose daring thoughtsL4
Range the full orb of being still the formM4
Which fancy worships or sublime or fairP
Her votaries proclaim I see them dawnN4
I see the radiant visions where they riseO4
More lovely than when Lucifer displaysP4
His glittering forehead through the gates of mornQ4
To lead the train of Phoebus and the springR4
-
Say why was man so eminently rais'dB
Amid the vast creation why impower'dB
Through life and death to dart his watchful eyeX
With thoughts beyond the limit of his frameC3
But that the omnipotent might send him forthZ3
In sight of angels and immortal mindsP3
As on an ample theatre to joinS4
In contest with his equals who shall bestB
The task atchieve the course of noble toilsT4
By wisdom and by mercy preordain'dB
Might send him forth the sovran good to learnD
To chace each meaner purpose from his breastB
And through the mists of passion and of senseU4
And through the pelting storms of chance and painT3
To hold strait on with constant heart and eyeX
Still fix'd upon his everlasting palmV4
The approving smile of heaven Else wherefore burnsS2
In mortal bosoms this unquenched hopeW4
That seeks from day to day sublimer endsH3
Happy though restless Why departs the soulA4
Wide from the track and journey of her timesX4
To grasp the good she knows not in the fieldB
Of things which may be in the spacious fieldB
Of science potent arts or dreadful armsK2
To raise up scenes in which her own desiresF
Contented may repose when things which areE2
Pall on her temper like a twice told taleY4
Her temper still demanding to be freeV
Spurning the rude controul of willful mightB
Proud of her dangers brav'd her griefs indur'dB
Her strength severely prov'd To these high aimsO3
Which reason and affection prompt in manR
Not adverse nor unapt hath nature fram'dB
His bold imagination For amidB
The various forms which this full world presentsZ4
Like rivals to his choice what human breastB
E'er doubts before the transient and minuteB
To prize the vast the stable the sublimeG3
Who that from heights a rial sends his eyeX
Around a wild horizon and surveysP4
Indus or Ganges rolling his broad waveS3
Through mountains plains through spacious cities oldB
And regions dark with woods will turn awayJ2
To mark the path of some penurious rillC
Which murmureth at his feet Where does the soulA4
Consent her soaring fancy to restrainT3
Which bears her up as on an eagle's wingsW
Destin'd for highest heaven or which of fate'sW
Tremendous barriers shall confine her flightB
To any humbler quarry The rich earthQ
Cannot detain her nor the ambient airP
With all its changes For a while with joyX3
She hovers o'er the sun and views the smallB4
Attendant orbs beneath his sacred beamN2
Emerging from the deep like cluster'd islesW
Whose rocky shores to the glad sailor's eyeX
Reflect the gleams of morning for a while
With pride she sees his firm paternal swayJ2
Bend the reluctant planets to move eachQ3
Round its perpetual year But soon she quitsW
That prospect meditating loftier viewsW
She darts adventurous up the long careerA2
Of comets through the constellations holdsW
Her course and now looks back on all the starsW
Whose blended flames as with a milky streamN2
Part the blue region Empyrean tractsW
Where happy souls beyond this concave heavenO
Abide she then explores whence purer lightB
For countless ages travels through the abyssW
Nor hath in sight of mortals yet arriv'dB
Upon the wide creation's utmost shoreJ3
At length she stands and the dread space beyondB
Contemplates half recoiling nathless downE
The gloomy void astonish'd yet unquell'dB
She plungeth down the unfathomable gulphS3
Where God alone hath being There her hopesW
Rest at the fated goal For from the birthQ
Of human kind the sovran maker saidB
That not in humble nor in brief delightB
Not in the fleeting echos of renownE
Power's purple robes nor pleasure's flowery lap
The soul should find contentment but from theseW
Turning disdainful to an equal goodB
Through nature's opening walks inlarge her aimC3
Till every bound at length should disappearA2
And infinite perfection fill the sceneA
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But lo where beauty dress'd in gentler pomp
With comely steps advancing claims the verseW
Her charms inspire O beauty source of praiseW
Of honour even to mute and lifeless thingsW
O thou that kindlest in each human heartB
Love and the wish of poets when their tongueL2
Would teach to other bosoms what so charmsW
Their own o child of nature and the soulA4
In happiest hour brought forth the doubtful garbE4
Of words of earthly language all too meanA
Too lowly I account in which to clothe
Thy form divine for thee the mind aloneY2
Beholds nor half thy brightness can reveal
Through those dim organs whose corporeal touchY3
O'ershadoweth thy pure essence Yet my MuseW
If fortune call thee to the task wait thou
Thy favorable seasons then while fearA2
And doubt are absent through wide nature's boundsW
Expatiate with glad step and choose at willC
Whate'er bright spoils the florid earth containsW
Whate'er the waters or the liquid airP
To manifest unblemish'd beauty's praiseW
And o'er the breasts of mortals to extendB
Her gracious empire Wilt thou to the islesW
Atlantic to the rich Hesperian climeC3
Fly in the train of Autumn and look onG
And learn from him while as he roves aroundB
Where'er his fingers touch the fruitful groveS3
The branches bloom with gold where'er his footB
Imprints the soil the ripening clusters swell
Turning aside their foliage and come forthZ3
In purple lights till every hilloc glowsW
As with the blushes of an evening skyX
Or wilt thou that Thessalian landscape traceW
Where slow Peneus his clear glassy tideB
Draws smooth along between the winding cliffsW
Of Ossa and the pathless woods unshornG
That wave o'er huge Olympus Down the streamC3
Look how the mountains with their double range
Imbrace the vale of Tempe from each sideB
Ascending steep to heaven a rocky moundB
Cover'd with ivy and the laurel boughsW
That crown'd young Phoebus for the Python slainG
Fair Tempe on whose primrose banks the mornG
Awoke most fragrant and the noon repos'dB
In pomp of lights and shadows most sublimeC3
Whose lawns whose glades ere human footsteps yetB
Had trac'd an entrance were the hallow'd hauntB
Of sylvan powers immortal where they sateB
Oft in the golden age the Nymphs and FaunsW
Beneath some arbor branching o'er the floodB
And leaning round hung on the instructive lipsW
Of hoary Pan or o'er some open daleY4
Danc'd in light measures to his sevenfold pipe
While Zephyr's wanton hand along their pathH
Flung showers of painted blossoms fertile dewsW
And one perpetual spring But if our task
More lofty rites demand with all good vowsW
Then let us hasten to the rural hauntB
Where young Melissa dwells Nor thou refuseW
The voice which calls thee from thy lov'd retreatB
But hither gentle maid thy footsteps turnG
Here to thy own unquestionable themeC3
O fair o graceful bend thy polish'd brow
Assenting and the gladness of thy eyesW
Impart to me like morning's wished lightB
Seen through the vernal air By yonder streamC3
Where beech and elm along the bordering meadB
Send forth wild melody from every bough
Together let us wander where the hillsW
Cover'd with fleeces to the lowing valeY4
Reply where tidings of content and peaceW
Each echo brings Lo how the western sunG
O'er fields and floods o'er every living soulA4
Diffuseth glad repose There while I speakJ
Of beauty's honors thou Melissa thou
Shalt hearken not unconscious while I tell
How first from heaven she came how after allB4
The works of life the elemental scenesW
The hours the seasons she had oft explor'dB
At length her favorite mansion and her throneG
She fix'd in woman's form what pleasing tiesW
To virtue bind her what effectual aidB
They lend each other's power and how divineG
Their union should some unambitious maidB
To all the inchantment of the Idalian queenG
Add sanctity and wisdom while my tongueL2
Prolongs the tale Melissa thou may'st feignG
To wonder whence my rapture is inspir'dB
But soon the smile which dawns upon thy lip
Shall tell it and the tenderer bloom o'er allB4
That soft cheek springing to the marble neck
Which bends aside in vain revealing moreJ3
What it would thus keep silent and in vainG
The sense of praise dissembling Then my songF4
Great nature's winning arts which thus informC3
With joy and love the rugged breast of manG
Should sound in numbers worthy of such a themeC3
While all whose souls have ever felt the forceW
Of those inchanting passions to my lyreZ
Should throng attentive and receive once moreJ3
Their influence unobscur'd by any cloudB
Of vulgar care and purer than the handB
Of fortune can bestow nor to confirmC3
Their sway should awful contemplation scornG
To join his dictates to the genuine strainG
Of pleasure's tongue nor yet should pleasure's earL
Be much averse Ye chiefly gentle bandB
Of youths and virgins who through many a wish
And many a fond pursuit as in some sceneG
Of magic bright and fleeting are allur'dB
By various beauty if the pleasing toilP2
Can yield a moment's respite hither turnG
Your favorable ear and trust my wordsW
I do not mean on bless'd religion's seatB
Presenting superstition's gloomy formC3
To dash your soothing hopes I do not meanG
To bid the jealous thunderer fire the heavensW
Or shapes infernal rend the groaning earthQ
And scare you from your joys my cheerful songF4
With happier omens calls you to the fieldB
Pleas'd with your generous ardor in the chaceW
And warm like you Then tell me for ye knowG
Doth beauty ever deign to dwell where useW
And aptitude are strangers is her praiseW
Confess'd in aught whose most peculiar endsW
Are lame and fruitless or did nature meanG
This pleasing call the herald of a lyeX
To hide the shame of discord and diseaseW
And win each fond admirer into snaresW
Foil'd baffled No with better providenceW
The general mother conscious how infirmC3
Her offspring tread the paths of good and illC
Thus to the choice of credulous desireL3
Doth objects the completest of their tribe
Distinguish and commend Yon flowery bank
Cloth'd in the soft magnificence of springR4
Will not the flocks approve it will they ask
The reedy fen for pasture That clear rillC
Which trickleth murmuring from the mossy rock
Yields it less wholesome beverage to the wornG
And thirsty traveler than the standing pool
With muddy weeds o'ergrown Yon ragged vineG
Whose lean and sullen clusters mourn the rage
Of Eurus will the wine press or the bowlA4
Report of her as of the swelling grape
Which glitters through the tendrils like a gemC3
When first it meets the sun Or what are allB4
The various charms to life and sense adjoin'dB
Are they not pledges of a state intireL3
Where native order reigns with every partB
In health and every function well perform'dB
-
Thus then at first was beauty sent from heavenG
The lovely ministress of truth and goodB
In this dark world for truth and good are oneG
And beauty dwells in them and they in herL3
With like participation Wherefore thenG
O sons of earth would ye dissolve the tieB
O wherefore with a rash and greedy aimC3
Seek ye to rove through every flattering sceneG
Which beauty seems to deck nor once inquireL3
Where is the suffrage of eternal truthM2
Or where the seal of undeceitful goodB
To save your search from folly Wanting theseW
Lo beauty withers in your void embraceW
And with the glittering of an idiot's toyB
Did fancy mock your vows Nor yet let hopeW4
That kindliest inmate of the youthful breastB
Be hence appall'd be turn'd to coward sloth
Sitting in silence with dejected eyesW
Incurious and with folded hands far lessW
Let scorn of wild fantastic folly's dreamsW
Or hatred of the bigot's savage prideB
Persuade you e'er that beauty or the loveS3
Which waits on beauty may not brook to hearL3
The sacred lore of undeceitful goodB
And truth eternal From the vulgar croudB
Though superstition tyranness abhorr'dB
The reverence due to this majestic pairL3
With threats and execration still demandsW
Though the tame wretch who asks of her the wayJ2
To their celestial dwelling she constrainsW
To quench or set at nought the lamp of GodB
Within his frame through many a cheerless wildB
Though forth she leads him credulous and darkK4
And aw'd with dubious notion though at length
Haply she plunge him into cloister'd cellsW
And mansions unrelenting as the graveS3
Of midnight there amid the screaming owl'sW
Dire song with spectres or with guilty shadesW
To talk of pangs and everlasting woeG
Yet be not ye dismay'd a gentler starL3
Presides o'er your adventure From the bowerL3
Where wisdom sate with her Athenian sonsW
Could but my happy hand intwine a wreath
Of Plato's olive with the Mantuan bayJ2
Then for what need of cruel fear to youH4
To you whom godlike love can well commandB
Then should my powerful voice at once dispell
Those monkish horrors should in words divineG
Relate how favor'd minds like you inspir'dB
And taught their inspiration to conductB
By ruling heaven's decree through various walksW
And prospects various but delightful allB4
Move onward while now myrtle groves appearL3
Now arms and radiant trophies now the rodsW
Of empire with the curule throne or now
The domes of contemplation and the MuseW
Led by that hope sublime whose cloudless eyeB
Through the fair toils and ornaments of earthQ
Discerns the nobler life reserv'd for heavenG
Favor'd alike they worship round the shrineG
Where truth conspicuous with her sister twinsW
The undivided partners of her swayJ2
With good and beauty reigns O let not usW
By pleasure's lying blandishments detain'dB
Or crouching to the frowns of bigot rage
O let not us one moment pause to joinG
That chosen band And if the gracious powerL3
Who first awaken'd my untutor'd songF4
Will to my invocation grant anewH4
The tuneful spirit then through all our pathsW
Ne'er shall the sound of this devoted lyreL3
Be wanting whether on the rosy meadB
When summer smiles to warn the melting heartB
Of luxury's allurement whether firmC3
Against the torrent and the stubborn hillC
To urge free virtue's steps and to her sideB
Summon that strong divinity of soulA4
Which conquers chance and fate or on the heightB
The goal assign'd her haply to proclaimC3
Her triumph on her brow to place the crownG
Of uncorrupted praise through future worldsW
To follow her interminated wayJ2
And bless heaven's image in the heart of manG
-
Such is the worth of beauty such her powerL3
So blameless so rever'd It now remainsW
In just gradation through the various ranksW
Of being to contemplate how her giftsW
Rise in due measure watchful to attendB
The steps of rising nature Last and leastB
In colors mingling with a random blazeW
Doth beauty dwell Then higher in the formsW
Of simplest easiest measure in the boundsW
Of circle cube or sphere The third ascentB
To symmetry adds color thus the pearl
Shines in the concave of its purple bedB
And painted shells along some winding shoreL3
Catch with indented folds the glancing sunG
Next as we rise appear the blooming tribesW
Which clothe the fragrant earth which draw from herL3
Their own nutrition which are born and dieB
Yet in their seed immortal such the flowersW
With which young Maia pays the village maidsW
That hail her natal morn and such the grovesW
Which blithe Pomona rears on Vaga's bank
To feed the bowl of Ariconian swainsW
Who quaff beneath her branches Nobler stillC
Is beauty's name where to the full consentB
Of members and of features to the prideB
Of color and the vital change of growth
Life's holy flame with piercing sense is givenG
While active motion speaks the temper'd soulA4
So moves the bird of Juno so the steedB
With rival swiftness beats the dusty plainG
And faithful dogs with eager airs of joyB
Salute their fellows What sublimer pomp
Adorns the seat where virtue dwells on earthQ
And truth's eternal day light shines aroundB
What palm belongs to man's imperial frontB
And woman powerful with becoming smilesW
Chief of terrestrial natures need we now
Strive to inculcate Thus hath beauty thereL3
Her most conspicuous praise to matter lentB
Where most conspicuous through that shadowy veilY4
Breaks forth the bright expression of a mindB
By steps directing our inraptur'd search
To him the first of minds the chief the soleA4
From whom through this wide complicated worldB
Did all her various lineaments beginG
To whom alone consenting and intireL3
At once their mutual influence all displayJ2
He God most high bear witness earth and heavenG
The living fountains in himself containsW
Of beauteous and sublime with him inthron'dB
Ere days or years trod their ethereal wayJ2
In his supreme intelligence inthron'dB
The queen of love holds her unclouded stateB
Urania Thee o father this extentB
Of matter thee the sluggish earth and tractB
Of seas the heavens and heavenly splendors feel
Pervading quickening moving From the depth
Of thy great essence forth did'st thou conductB
Eternal Form and there where Chaos reign'dB
Gav'st her dominion to erect her seatB
And sanctify the mansion All her worksW
Well pleas'd thou did'st behold the gloomy firesW
Of storm or earthquake and the purest lightB
Of summer soft Campania's new born roseW
And the slow weed which pines on Russian hillsW
Comely alike to thy full vision standB
To thy surrounding vision which unitesW
All essences and powers of the great worldB
In one sole order fair alike they standB
As features well consenting and alike
Requir'd by nature ere she could attainG
Her just resemblance to the perfect shape
Of universal beauty which with theeV
Dwelt from the first Thou also ancient mindB
Whom love and free beneficence awaitB
In all thy doings to inferior mindsW
Thy offspring and to man thy youngest sonG
Refusing no convenient gift nor goodB
Their eyes did'st open in this earth yon heavenG
Those starry worlds the countenance divineG
Of beauty to behold But not to themC3
Didst thou her awful magnitude reveal
Such as before thine own unbounded sightB
She stands for never shall created soulA4
Conceive that object nor to all their kindsW
The same in shape or features didst thou frameC3
Her image Measuring well their different spheresW
Of sense and action thy paternal handB
Hath for each race prepar'd a different testB
Of beauty own'd and reverenc'd as their guideB
Most apt most faithful Thence inform'd they scanG
The objects that surround them and selectB
Since the great whole disclaims their scanty viewH4
Each for himself selects peculiar partsW
Of nature what the standard fix'd by heavenG
Within his breast approves acquiring thusW
A partial beauty which becomes his lotB
A beauty which his eye may comprehendB
His hand may copy leaving o supremeC3
O thou whom none hath utter'd leaving allB4
To thee that infinite consummate formC3
Which the great powers the gods around thy throneG
And nearest to thy counsels know with theeV
For ever to have been but who she isW
Or what her likeness know not Man surveysW
A narrower scene where by the mix'd effectB
Of things corporeal on his passive mindB
He judgeth what is fair Corporeal thingsW
The mind of man impell with various powersW
And various features to his eye discloseW
The powers which move his sense with instant joyB
The features which attract his heart to loveS3
He marks combines reposits other powersW
And features of the self same thing unlessW
The beauteous form the creature of his mindB
Request their close alliance he o'erlooksW
Forgotten or with self beguiling zeal
Whene'er his passions mingle in the work
Half alters half disowns The tribes of menG
Thus from their different functions and the shapesW
Familiar to their eye with art obtainG
Unconscious of their purpose yet with artB
Obtain the beauty fitting man to loveS3
Whose proud desires from nature's homely toilP2
Oft turn away fastidious asking stillC
His mind's high aid to purify the formC3
From matter's gross communion to secureL3
For ever from the meddling hand of change
Or rude decay her features and to addB
Whatever ornaments may suit her mienG
Where'er he finds them scatter'd through the pathsW
Of nature or of fortune Then he seatsW
The accomplish'd image deep within his breastB
Reviews it and accounts it good and fairL3
-
Thus the one beauty of the world intireL3
The universal Venus far beyondB
The keenest effort of created eyesW
And their most wide horizon dwells inthron'dB
In ancient silence At her footstool standsW
An altar burning with eternal fireL3
Unsullied unconsum'd Here every hourL3
Here every moment in their turns arriveS3
Her offspring an innumerable bandB
Of sisters comely all but differing farL3
In age in stature and expressive mienG
More than bright Helen from her new born babe
To this maternal shrine in turns they comeC3
Each with her sacred lamp that from the sourceW
Of living flame which here immortal flowsW
Their portions of its lustre they may drawL3
For days or months or years for ages someC3
As their great parent's discipline requiresW
Then to their several mansions they departB
In stars in planets through the unknown shoresW
Of yon ethereal ocean Who can tell
Even on the surface of this rowling earthQ
How many make abode The fields the grovesW
The winding rivers and the azure mainG
Are render'd solemn by their frequent feetB
Their rites sublime There each her destin'd homeC3
Informs with that pure radiance from the skiesW
Brought down and shines throughout her little sphereL3
Exulting Strait as travellers by nightB
Turn toward a distant flame so some sit eyeB
Among the various tenants of the sceneG
Discerns the heaven born phantom seated thereL3
And owns her charms Hence the wide universeW
Through all the seasons of revolving worldsW
Bears witness with its people gods and menG
To beauty's blissful power and with the voiceW
Of grateful admiration still resoundsW
That voice to which is beauty's frame divineG
As is the cunning of the master's handB
To the sweet accent of the well tun'd lyreL3
-
Genius of ancient Greece whose faithful stepsW
Have led us to these awful solitudesW
Of nature and of science nurse rever'dB
Of generous counsels and heroic deedsW
O let some portion of thy matchless praiseW
Dwell in my breast and teach me to adornG
This unattempted theme Nor be my thoughtsW
Presumptuous counted if amid the calmC3
Which Hesper sheds along the vernal heavenG
If I from vulgar superstition's walk
Impatient steal and from the unseemly ritesW
Of splendid adulation to attendB
With hymns thy presence in the sylvan shadeB
By their malignant footsteps unprofan'dB
Come o renowned power thy glowing mienG
Such and so elevated all thy formC3
As when the great barbaric lord againG
And yet again diminish'd hid his faceW
Among the herd of satraps and of kingsW
And at the lightning of thy lifted spearL3
Crouch'd like a slave Bring all thy martial spoilsW
Thy palms thy laurels thy triumphal songsW
Thy smiling band of arts thy godlike siresW
Of civil wisdom thy unconquer'd youthM2
After some glorious day rejoicing roundB
Their new erected trophy Guide my feetB
Through fair Lyceum's walk the olive shadesW
Of Academus and the sacred valeY4
Haunted by steps divine where once beneath
That ever living platane's ample boughsW
Ilissus by Socratic sounds detain'dB
On his neglected urn attentive layJ2
While Boreas lingering on the neighboring steep
With beauteous Orithy a his love taleY4
In silent awe suspended There let meV
With blameless hand from thy unenvious fieldsW
Transplant some living blossoms to adornG
My native clime while far beyond the meedB
Of fancy's toil aspiring I unlock
The springs of antient wisdom while I addB
What cannot be disjoin'd from beauty's praiseW
Thy name and native dress thy works belov'dB
And honor'd while to my compatriot youthM2
I point the great example of thy sonsW
And tune to Attic themes the British lyreL3

Mark Akenside



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