Colin's Mistakes. Written In Imitation Of Spenser's Style Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABACACDD EFEFGHGIJJ KLKLMGMGNN OPOPQDQDQQ RSRLTFTFDD UGUGVOVOWW XRXRYHYIAZ UA2B2C2AHAHD2D2 E2F2E2E2E2E2E2E2CC E2G2E2H2QI2QI2J2J2 QE2QE2PE2PE2E2E2| Fast by the banks of Cam was Colin bred | A |
| Ye Nymphs for every guard that sacred stream | B |
| To Wimple's woody shade his way he sped | A |
| Flourish those woods the Muses' endless theme | B |
| As whilom Colin ancient books had read | A |
| Lays Greek and Roman would he oft rehearse | C |
| And much he loved and much by heart he said | A |
| What Father Spenser sung in British verse | C |
| Who reads that bard desire like him to write | D |
| Still fearful of success still tempted by delight | D |
| - | |
| Soon as Aurora had unbarr'd the morn | E |
| And light discover'd Nature's cheerful face | F |
| The sounding clarion and the sprightly horn | E |
| Call'd the blithe huntsman to the distance chase | F |
| Eftsoons they issue forth a goodly band | G |
| The deep mouth'd bounds with thunder rend the air | H |
| The fiery coursers strike the rising sand | G |
| Far through the thicket flies the frighted deer | I |
| Harley the honour of the day supports | J |
| His presence glads the woods his orders guide the sports | J |
| - | |
| On a fair palfrey well equipp'd did sit | K |
| An Amazonian dame a scarlet vest | L |
| For active horsemanship adaptly fit | K |
| Enclosed her dainty limbs a plumed crest | L |
| Waved o'er her head obedient by her side | M |
| Her friends and servants rode with artful hand | G |
| Full well knew she the steed to turn and guide | M |
| The willing steed received her soft command | G |
| Courage and sweetness on her face was seated | N |
| On her all eyes were bent and all good wishes waited | N |
| - | |
| This seeing Colin thus his Muse bespake | O |
| For alltydes was the Muse to Colin nigh | P |
| Ah me too nigh or Clio I mistake | O |
| Or that bright form that pleaseth so mine eye | P |
| Is Jove's fair daughter Pallas gracious queen | Q |
| Of liberal arts with wonder and delight | D |
| In Homer's verse we read her well I ween | Q |
| That emulous of his Grecian master's flight | D |
| Dan Spenser makes the favourite goddess known | Q |
| When in her graceful look fair Britomart is shown | Q |
| - | |
| At noon as Colin to the castle came | R |
| Oped were the gates and right prepared the feast | S |
| Appears at table richly clad a dame | R |
| The lord's delight the wonder of the guest | L |
| With pearl and jewels was she sumptuous deck'd | T |
| As well became her dignity and place | F |
| But the beholders mought her gems neglect | T |
| To fix their eyes on her more lovely face | F |
| Serene with glory and with softness bright | D |
| O beauty sent from heaven to cheer the mortal sight | D |
| - | |
| Liberal Munificence behind her stood | U |
| And decent State obey'd her high command | G |
| And Charity diffuse of native good | U |
| At once portrays her mind and guides her hand | G |
| As to each guest some fruits she deign'd to lift | V |
| And silence with obliging parley broke | O |
| How gracious seem'd to each th' imparted gift | V |
| But how more gracious what the giver spoke | O |
| Such ease such freedom did her deed attend | W |
| That every guest rejoiced exalted to a friend | W |
| - | |
| Quoth Colin Clio if my feeble sense | X |
| Can well distinguish yon illustrious dame | R |
| Who nobly doth such gentle gifts dispense | X |
| In Latian numbers Juno is her name | R |
| Great goddess who with peace and plenty crown'd | Y |
| To all that under sky breathe vital air | H |
| Diffuseth bliss and through the world around | Y |
| Pours wealthy ease and scatters joyous cheer | I |
| Certes of her in semblant guise I read | A |
| Where Spenser decks his lays with Gloriana's deed | Z |
| - | |
| As Colin mused at evening near the wood | U |
| A nymph undress'd beseemeth by him pass'd | A2 |
| Down to her feet her silken garment flow'd | B2 |
| A riband bound and shaped her slender waist | C2 |
| A veil dependent from her comely head | A |
| And beauteous plenty of Ambrosial hair | H |
| O'er her fair breast and lovely shoulders spread | A |
| Behind fell loose and wanton'd with the air | H |
| The smiling Zephyrs call'd their amorous brothers | D2 |
| They kiss'd the waving lawn and wafted it to others | D2 |
| - | |
| Daisies and violets rose where'er she trod | E2 |
| As Flora kind her roots and buds had sorted | F2 |
| And led by Hymen wedlock's mystic god | E2 |
| Ten thousand Loves around the nymph disported | E2 |
| Quoth Colin Now I ken the goddess bright | E2 |
| Whom poets sing all human hearts enthrall'd | E2 |
| Obey her power her kindness the delight | E2 |
| Of gods and men great Venus is she call'd | E2 |
| When Mantuan Virgil doth her charms rehearse | C |
| Belphebe is her name in gentle Edmund's verse | C |
| - | |
| Heard this the Muse and with a smile replied | E2 |
| Which show'd soft anger mix'd with friendly love | G2 |
| Twin sisters still were Ignorance and Pride | E2 |
| Can we know right till error we remove | H2 |
| But Colin well I wist will never learn | Q |
| Who slights his guide shall deviate from his way | I2 |
| Me to have ask'd what thou couldst not discern | Q |
| To thee pertain'd to me the thing to say | I2 |
| What heavenly will from human eye conceals | J2 |
| How can the bard aread unless the Muse reveals | J2 |
| - | |
| Nor Pallas thou nor Britomart hast seen | Q |
| When soon at morn the flying deer was chased | E2 |
| Nor Jove's great wife nor Spenser's fairy Queen | Q |
| At noontide dealt the honours of the feast | E2 |
| Nor Venus nor Belphebe didst thou spy | P |
| The evening's glory and the groves delight | E2 |
| Henceforth if ask'd instructed right reply | P |
| That all the day to knowing mortals' sight | E2 |
| Bright Ca'ndish Holles Harley stood confess'd | E2 |
| As various hour advised in various habit dress'd | E2 |
Matthew Prior
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