To The Country Gentlemen Of England Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCCDBBD EFEGEEHIIHJEJEKKLMML EBEBNNGOOGFPFPDBHQQH RSTUEEOHHOPEPEEEKVVK BWBWEESEESPOPOGGXYZB A2QA2QB2B2BC2C2BELEL D2D2GEEG E2LE2LXXE2BBE2GB2GB2 EEF2BBF2 PBPBLLPE2E2PUBUBG2G2 GE2E2G EE2EE2E2E2E2E2E2E2SE 2SE2EEBRTB

Whither is Europe's ancient spirit fledA
Where are those valiant tenants of her shoreB
Who from the warrior bow the strong dart spedA
Or with firm hand the rapid pole ax boreB
Freeman and soldier was their common nameC
Who late with reapers to the furrow cameC
Now in the front of battle charg'd the foeD
Who taught the steer the wintry plough to indureB
Now in full councils check'd incroaching powerB
And gave the guardian laws their majesty to knowD
-
But who are ye from Ebro's loitering sonsE
To Tiber's pageants to the sports of SeineF
From Rhine's frail palaces to Danube's thronesE
And cities looking on the Cimbric mainG
Ye lost ye self deserted whose proud lordsE
Have baffled your tame hands and given your swordsE
To slavish ruffians hir'd for their commandH
These at some greedy monk's or harlot's nodI
See rifled nations crouch beneath their rodI
These are the public will the reason of the landH
Thou heedless Albion what alas the whileJ
Dost thou presume O inexpert in armsE
Yet vain of freedom how dost thou beguileJ
With dreams of hope these near and loud alarmsE
Thy splendid home thy plan of laws renown'dK
The praise and envy of the nations roundK
What care hast thou to guard from fortune's swayL
Amid the storms of war how soon may allM
The lofty pile from its foundations fallM
Of ages the proud toil the ruin of a dayL
-
No thou art rich thy streams and fertile valesE
Add industry's wise gifts to nature's storeB
And every port is crouded with thy sailsE
And every wave throws treasure on thy shoreB
What boots it If luxurious plenty charmN
Thy selfish heart from glory if thy armN
Shrink at the frowns of danger and of painG
Those gifts that treasure is no longer thineO
Oh rather far be poor Thy gold will shineO
Tempting the eye of force and deck thee to thy baneG
But what hath force or war to do with theeF
Girt by the azure tide and thron'd sublimeP
Amid thy floating bulwarks thou canst seeF
With scorn the fury of each hostile climeP
Dash'd ere it reach thee Sacred from the foeD
Are thy fair fields athwart thy guardian prowB
No bold invader's foot shall tempt the strandH
Yet say my country will the waves and windQ
Obey thee Hast thou all thy hopes resign'dQ
To the sky's fickle faith the pilot's wavering handH
-
For oh may neither fear nor stronger loveR
Love by thy virtuous princes nobly wonS
Thee last of many wretched nations moveT
With mighty armies station'd round the throneU
To trust thy safety Then farewell the claimsE
Of freedom Her proud records to the flamesE
Then bear an offering at ambition's shrineO
Whate'er thy ancient patriots dar'd demandH
From furious John's or faithless Charles's handH
Or what great William seal'd for his adopted lineO
But if thy sons be worthy of their nameP
If liberal laws with liberal hearts they prizeE
Let them from conquest and from servile shameP
In war's glad school their own protectors riseE
Ye chiefly heirs of Albion's cultur'd plainsE
Ye leaders of her bold and faithful swainsE
Now not unequal to your birth be foundK
The public voice bids arm your rural stateV
Paternal hamlets for your ensigns waitV
And grange and fold prepare to pour their youth aroundK
-
Why are ye tardy what inglorious careB
Detains you from their head your native postW
Who most their country's fame and fortune shareB
'Tis theirs to share her toils her perils mostW
Each man his task in social life sustainsE
With partial labours with domestic gainsE
Let others dwell to you indulgent heavenS
By counsel and by arms the public causeE
To serve for public love and love's applauseE
The first imployment far the noblest hire hath givenS
Have ye not heard of Laced mon's fameP
Of Attic chiefs in freedom's war divineO
Of Rome's dread generals the Valerian nameP
The Fabian sons the Scipios matchless lineO
Your lot was theirs the farmer and the swainG
Met his lov'd patron's summons from the plainG
The legions gather'd the bright eagles flewX
Barbarian monarchs in the triumph mourn'dY
The conquerors to their houshold gods return'dZ
And fed Calabrian flocks and steer'd the Sabine ploughB
-
Shall then this glory of the antique ageA2
This pride of men be lost among mankindQ
Shall war's heroic arts no more ingageA2
The unbought hand the unsubjected mindQ
Doth valour to the race no more belongB2
No more with scorn of violence and wrongB2
Doth forming nature now her sons inspireB
That like some mystery to few reveal'dC2
The skill of arms abash'd and aw'd they yieldC2
And from their own defence with hopeless hearts retireB
O shame to human life to human lawsE
The loose adventurer hireling of a dayL
Who his fell sword without affection drawsE
Whose God whose country is a tyrant's payL
This man the lessons of the field can learnD2
Can every palm which decks a warrior earnD2
And every pledge of conquest while in vainG
To guard your altars your paternal landsE
Are social arms held out to your free handsE
Too arduous is the lore too irksome were the painG
-
Meantime by pleasure's lying tales allur'dE2
From the bright sun and living breeze ye strayL
And deep in London's gloomy haunts immur'dE2
Brood o'er your fortune's freedom's health's decayL
O blind of choice and to yourselves untrueX
The young grove shoots their bloom the fields renewX
The mansion asks its lord the swains their friendE2
While he doth riot's orgies haply shareB
Or tempt the gamester's dark destroying snareB
Or at some courtly shrine with slavish incense bendE2
And yet full oft your anxious tongues complainG
That lawless tumult prompts the rustic throngB2
That the rude village inmates now disdainG
Those homely ties which rul'd their fathers longB2
Alas your fathers did by other artsE
Draw those kind ties around their simple heartsE
And led in other paths their ductile willF2
By succour faithful counsel courteous cheerB
Won them the ancient manners to revereB
To prize their country's peace and heaven's due rites fulfillF2
-
But mark rhe judgement of experienc'd TimeP
Tutor of nations Doth light discord tearB
A state and impotent sedition's crimeP
The powers of warlike prudence dwell not thereB
The powers who to command and to obeyL
Instruct the valiant There would civil swayL
The rising race to manly concord tameP
Oft let the marshal'd field their steps uniteE2
And in glad splendor bring before their sightE2
One common cause and one hereditary fameP
Nor yet be aw'd nor yet your task disownU
Though war's proud votaries look on severeB
Though secrets taught erewhile to them aloneU
They deem profan'd by your intruding earB
Let them in vain your martial hope to quellG2
Of new refinements fiercer weapons tellG2
And mock the old simplicity in vainG
To the time's warfare simple or refin'dE2
The time itself adapts the warrior's mindE2
And equal prowess still shall equal palms obtainG
-
Say then if England's youth in earlier daysE
On glory's field with well train'd armies vy'dE2
Why shall they now renounce that generous praiseE
Why dread the foreign mercenary's prideE2
Though Valois brav'd young Edward's gentle handE2
And Albret rush'd on Henry's way worn bandE2
With Europe's chosen sons in arms renown'dE2
Yet not on Vere's bold archers long they look'dE2
Nor Audley's squires nor Mowbray's yeomen brook'dE2
They saw their standard fall and left their monarch boundE2
Such were the laurels which your fathers wonS
Such glory's dictates in their dauntless breastE2
Is there no voice that speaks to every sonS
No nobler holier call to You address'dE2
O by majestic freedom righteous lawsE
By heavenly truth's by manly reason's causeE
Awake attend be indolent no moreB
By friendship social peace domestic loveR
Rise arm your country's living safety proveT
And train her valiant youth and watch around her shoreB

Mark Akenside



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