To Alexander Pope, Esq. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDEFF GGHIJJKKLMBBNNOPQQRR SSTTUU JJBBVVWWXX YYZZYYOO A2A2BLB2C2D2D2E2E2F2 F2 G2H2I2I2J2J2K2K2E2E2 L2L2M2M2ZZDEL2L2 FFN2N2O2O2 BBP2P2Q2Q2 ZZGGFFII| Shall for the Man of Ross thy Lyre be strung | A |
| And sleeps illustrious Thanet yet unsung | A |
| Since to distinguish Merit is thy Care | B |
| Let Thanet in thy deathless Praises share | B |
| Let me unequal to the Task excite | C |
| Thy matchless Muse to do his Merit Right | C |
| Numbers like thine should call his Virtues forth | D |
| Poetic Mirrors should be true to Worth | E |
| Disdaining to reflect those glitt'ring Rays | F |
| Which flow from Pomp or from Ambition's Blaze | F |
| - | |
| From Scenes of Woe unmov'd whilst Others fly | G |
| And turn from Anguish the unmelting Eye | G |
| Thanet pursues the Footsteps of the Poor | H |
| And silent enters thro' the lonely Door | I |
| Fair Plenty in his Train and Joy and Health | J |
| Seeking Distress as Others seek for Wealth | J |
| With God like Pity ev'ry Pray'r receives | K |
| Each Wish fulfils and ev'ry Want relieves | K |
| Where Sickness reigns he to his utmost Pow'r | L |
| Softens the Anguish of each dismal Hour | M |
| He smooths the rugged Brow of anxious Care | B |
| And gilds the gloomy Prospect of Despair | B |
| Whilst Libertines on Vice their Wealth employ | N |
| He makes the Widow's Heart to sing for Joy | N |
| Orphans no more their Parents lost complain | O |
| In Thanet's Bounty they revive again | P |
| Nor for this Life alone would he provide | Q |
| To Life eternal Thanet was their Guide | Q |
| Nor on Morality alone depends | R |
| But to the noblest Heights of Faith ascends | R |
| Devotion's heav'nly Flame inspir'd his Breast | S |
| Still in the Temple were his Vows address'd | S |
| Tho' he in Virtue's Paths delighted trod | T |
| Studious to please and imitate his God | T |
| The hallow'd Altar grateful he survey'd | U |
| And there his lowly Adoration paid | U |
| - | |
| See the pale childless Miser hoard up Wealth | J |
| And trembling snatch an anxious View by Stealth | J |
| Amass the shining Ore with guilty Care | B |
| To aggrandize some distant worthless Heir | B |
| Who longs impatient for the solemn Toll | V |
| Which slow proclaims the sad departed Soul | V |
| Then eyes with Joy the care collected Hoard | W |
| And spends profuse what Avarice had stor'd | W |
| By Fortune's sudden Smiles to Madness fir'd | X |
| He wastes on ev'ry Vice what Guilt acquir'd | X |
| - | |
| So dwells on Mountain Tops the Northern Snow | Y |
| Congeal'd by Frosts for Years untaught to flow | Y |
| Till hotter Suns more vig'rous Beams display | Z |
| The Mass relents the glitt'ring Piles decay | Z |
| Sudden from high resounding Torrents flow | Y |
| Impetuous rushing on the Vales below | Y |
| O'erwhelm the Harvest of the pining Swain | O |
| And curse with Floods which should have bless'd the Plain | O |
| - | |
| On Thanet Heav'n its happier Influence shed | A2 |
| A num'rous Off spring grac'd his nuptial Bed | A2 |
| And yet those Motives to paternal Care | B |
| Steel'd not his Breast against the Suppliant's Pray'r | L |
| Studious to draw down Blessings on his Race | B2 |
| His Bountics with his Progeny increase | C2 |
| Like Egypt's Flood beneficent he rose | D2 |
| Silent tho' vast his well judg'd Bounty flows | D2 |
| O'er the parch'd Earth it spreads its ample Course | E2 |
| Profuse of Good but modest hides its Source | E2 |
| Ask not to what his Charities amount | F2 |
| So many Myriads swell the vast Account | F2 |
| - | |
| Ye vain Pretenders to superior Sense | G2 |
| Ye empty Boasters of Beneficence | H2 |
| Who in the Scorners Seat exulting sit | I2 |
| And vaunt your impious Raillery for Wit | I2 |
| The Gospel Rule defective you pretend | J2 |
| When you the social Duties recommend | J2 |
| In Thanet see them heighten'd and refin'd | K2 |
| In Thanet see the Friend of human Kind | K2 |
| Heighten'd by Faith see ev'ry Virtue's Force | E2 |
| By Faith their surest Sanction noblest Source | E2 |
| Loudly ye boast a more than Christian Zeal | L2 |
| For Virtue's Int'rest and the public Weal | L2 |
| Best by Effects are Boastings understood | M2 |
| Come prove your Ardor for the public Good | M2 |
| The mighty Heroes of your Tribe survey | Z |
| Their ev'ry hidden Excellence display | Z |
| Or dead or living set their Virtues forth | D |
| Let all united vie with Thanet's Worth | E |
| Free thinkers Moralists on you I call | L2 |
| Can Thanet's Worth be equall'd by you all | L2 |
| - | |
| Accept illustrious Shade these artless Lays | F |
| My Soul this Homage to thy Virtue pays | F |
| Led by that sacred Light a Stranger Muse | N2 |
| Attempts those Paths which abler Feet refuse | N2 |
| In distant Climes thy Virtue she admires | O2 |
| In distant Climes thy Worth her Strain inspires | O2 |
| - | |
| Long to thy Tomb the Wretched shall repair | B |
| And to thy Ashes pay a silent Tear | B |
| Shall to the Traveller thy Worth relate | P2 |
| And Emulation thro' the World create | P2 |
| Ages to come shall celebrate thy Fame | Q2 |
| And Orphans yet unborn shall bless thy Name | Q2 |
| - | |
| When the firm Basis of the Earth gives Way | Z |
| And Nature's Self shall feel her last Decay | Z |
| When those who from the Wretched turn'd their Eye | G |
| Too late relenting shall for Mercy cry | G |
| The Thousands thou hast fed shall in thy Praise | F |
| Their loud Hosanna's to JEHOVAH raise | F |
| Thy modest Worth shall veil itself no more | I |
| Angels shall tell what Thanet hid before | I |
Mary Barber
(1)
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About To Alexander Pope, Esq.
To Alexander Pope, Esq. is a poem by Mary Barber. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.