Poet Mark Akenside

Mark Akenside

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The Virtuoso Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBBDBDDDEDEEEEEEDD DDDFDFGDHDIJEJEKKEKE EEEEEKEKEEEEEE EDEDDJDJJKDKLLELEEEK EKKEKEEMEMEEDEDD

Whilom by silver Thames's gentle streamA
In London town there dwelt a subtile wightB
A wight of mickle wealth and mickle fameC
Book learn'd and quaint a Virtuoso hightB
Uncommon things and rare were his delightB
From musings deep his brain ne'er gotten easeD
Nor ceased he from study day or nightB
Until advancing onward by degreesD
He knew whatever breeds on earth or air or seasD
He many a creature did anatomizeD
Almost unpeopling water air and landE
Beasts fishes birds snails caterpillars fliesD
Were laid full low by his relentless handE
That oft with gory crimson was distain'dE
He many a dog destroy'd and many a catE
Of fleas his bed of frogs the marshes drain'dE
Could tellen if a mite were lean or fatE
And read a lecture o'er the entrails of a gnatE
He knew the various modes of ancient timesD
Their arts and fashions of each different guiseD
Their weddings funerals punishments for crimesD
Their strength their learning eke and raritiesD
Of old habiliments each sort and sizeD
Male female high and low to him were knownF
Each gladiator dress and stage disguiseD
With learned clerkly phrase he could have shownF
How the Greek tunic differ'd from the Roman gownG
A curious medalist I wot he wasD
And boasted many a course of ancient coinH
Well as his wife's he knewen every faceD
From Julius Caesar down to ConstantineI
For some rare sculpture he would oft pineJ
As green sick damosels for husbands doE
And when obtained with enraptur'd eyneJ
He'd run it o'er and o'er with greedy viewE
And look and look again as he would look it thro'K
His rich museum of dimensions fairK
With goods that spoke the owner's mind was fraughtE
Things ancient curious value worth and rareK
From sea and land from Greece and Rome were broughtE
Which he with mighty sums of gold had boughtE
On these all tides with joyous eyes he por'dE
And sooth to say himself he greater thoughtE
When he beheld his cabinets thus stor'dE
Than if he'd been of Albion's wealthy cities lordE
Here in a corner stood a rich 'scrutoireK
With many a curiosity repleteE
In seemly order furnished every drawerK
Products of art or nature as was meetE
Air pumps and prisms were plac'd beneath his feetE
A Memphian mummy king hung o'er his headE
Here phials with live insects small and greatE
There stood a tripod of the Pythian maidE
Above a crocodile diffus'd a grateful shadeE
-
Fast by the window did a table standE
Where hodiern and antique raritiesD
From Egypt Greece and Rome from sea and landE
Were thick besprent of every sort and sizeD
Here a Bahaman spider's carcass liesD
There a dire serpent's golden skin doth shineJ
Here Indian feathers fruits and glittering fliesD
There gums and amber found beneath the lineJ
The beak of Ibis here and there an AntonineJ
Close at his back or whispering in his earK
There stood a spright ycleped PhantasyD
Which wheresoe'er he went was always nearK
Her look was wild and roving was her eyeL
Her hair was clad with flowers of every dyeL
Her glistering robes were of more various hueE
Than the fair bow that paints the clouded skyL
Or all the spangled drops of morning dewE
Their colour changing still at every different viewE
Yet in this shape all tydes she did not stayE
Various as the chameleon that she boreK
Now a grand monarch with a crown of hayE
Now mendicant in silks and golden oreK
A statesman now equipp'd to chase the boarK
Or cowled monk lean feeble and unfedE
A clown like lord or swain of courtly loreK
Now scribbling dunce in sacred laurel cladE
Or papal father now in homely weeds array'dE
The wight whose brain this phantom's power doth fillM
On whom she doth with constant care attendE
Will for a dreadful giant take a millM
Or a grand palace in a hogsty findE
From her dire influence me may Heaven defendE
All things with vitiated sight he spiesD
Neglects his family forgets his friendE
Seeks painted trifles and fantastic toysD
And eagerly pursues imaginary joysD

Mark Akenside



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