Vignettes 21: Lines Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AB CCDDEEEEFFGH IIJJKKLLMMNN EEOOPPQQRRSSIIIITT UUOOVWXXYYRRZZIIEEII CCA2A2RRB2B2SSC2C2| Written for a Young Gentleman to speak at the Audit | A |
| at St Saviour's School Southwark after the Battle of Trafalgar | B |
| - | |
| - | |
| While others from the Greek and Roman page | C |
| Declare the prudent councils of the sage | C |
| Or in recital of achievements bold | D |
| Retrace the motives and the deeds of old | D |
| I in the accents of my native clime | E |
| And at the moment shaking hands with Time | E |
| I whom our recent loss forbids to roam | E |
| Shall plant my mourning standard nearer home | E |
| At the sad shrine where gallant Nelson sleeps | F |
| Where Britain bends her lofty head and weeps | F |
| Deeply lamenting that she cannot prove | G |
| The fond excess of dearly purchas'd love | H |
| - | |
| Is there a callous mind that does not feel | I |
| An anxious interest in the public weal | I |
| Is there a heart that pities not the brave | J |
| To whom luxuriant laurels hide the grave | J |
| A grief unwing'd yet unconsol'd by pride | K |
| A tongue that said not when our hero died | K |
| While bitter tears that glorious loss deplore | L |
| The man who lov'd his country is no more | L |
| No in each eye the glowing trophies fade | M |
| Each sign of triumph seems a vain parade | M |
| The aching sigh to conquering shouts succeeds | N |
| And Victory assumes a widow's weeds | N |
| - | |
| Some wily chieftain building up a name | E |
| May fight for immortality and fame | E |
| Time may embalm his valour or his art | O |
| And History shew the coldness of a heart | O |
| Which emulous of grandeur and a throne | P |
| Acts for itself its own low self alone | P |
| And in the inner chambers of the mind | Q |
| Broods over plans to subjugate mankind | Q |
| There fondly bends each nation to his sway | R |
| That he may rule and all beside obey | R |
| Haply the mighty fabric may arise | S |
| Vast in its bulk and aiming at the skies | S |
| Till Wisdom viewing the enormous pile | I |
| Admires the madness of a man the while | I |
| Who labours with incessant toil and skill | I |
| To feed Ambition discontented still | I |
| And for that serpent in his bosom curl'd | T |
| Erects a temple fit to hold the world | T |
| - | |
| Though such a chief a deathless wreath may crown | U |
| Though he may win a sterile hard renown | U |
| His name shall ne'er a sudden glow impart | O |
| Nor make the tear of admiration start | O |
| Ne'er in his plaudits shall warm blessings join | V |
| None cry The triumph of that man is mine | W |
| But when his greatness crumbles in the dust | X |
| Coldly exclaim Lo Providence is just | X |
| Far different is the patriot warrior's lot | Y |
| He may in Time's long journey be forgot | Y |
| Though many generations shall decay | R |
| Ere England's love to Nelson wears away | R |
| But if at length successive years should cast | Z |
| The mist of distance upon ages past | Z |
| And fathers what themselves have witness'd tell | I |
| Of those who yet shall serve their country well | I |
| Memory and Knowledge shall dispel the gloom | E |
| And shed strong light on every honour'd tomb | E |
| To lift the spirit when our courage fail | I |
| When worth departed future ages hail | I |
| - | |
| And ye compeers who in the classic page | C |
| Do homage to the hero and the sage | C |
| Whose hearts at base and cruel actions bleed | A2 |
| But rise triumphant at a noble deed | A2 |
| Forbear from Duty's anxious side to stray | R |
| But follow bravely when she leads the way | R |
| Follow with head and heart as Nelson fought | B2 |
| Be vigilant like him in act and thought | B2 |
| Then as the lark mounts upwards in the skies | S |
| Early in life's fair morning will you rise | S |
| Expand bold pinions nearest to the sun | C2 |
| And claim the meed of glory fairly won | C2 |
Matilda Betham
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
About Vignettes 21: Lines
Vignettes 21: Lines is a poem by Matilda Betham. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
Write your comment about Vignettes 21: Lines poem by Matilda Betham
Best Poems of Matilda Betham
