The Dove Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABACDEDFGHIJKLMNOPOP QRQR STUTVWVXYZDZWA2WB2C2 ZJZZD2ZD2E2F2G2F2 H2I2H2I2J2ZB2ZDB2DJ2 A2K2A2L2QM2QVN2TN2TJ 2O2B2O2 RP2RP2ZDZDO2Q2O2Q2ZZ ZZZZZZWJR2HO2O2O2O2 ZO2ZO2O2M2O2M2O2DO2D S2DFDIn Virgil's Sacred Verse we find | A |
That Passion can depress or raise | B |
The Heav'nly as the Human Mind | A |
Who dare deny what Virgil says | C |
But if They shou'd what our Great Master | D |
Has thus laid down my Tale shall prove | E |
Fair Venus wept the sad Disaster | D |
Of having lost her Fav'rite Dove | F |
In Complaisance poor Cupid mourn'd | G |
His Grief reliev'd his Mother's Pain | H |
He vow'd he'd leave no Stone unturn'd | I |
But She shou'd have her Dove again | J |
Tho' None said He shall yet be nam'd | K |
I know the Felon well enough | L |
But be She not Mamma condemn'd | M |
Without a fair and legal Proof | N |
With that his longest Dart he took | O |
As Constable wou'd take his Staff | P |
That Gods desire like Men to look | O |
Wou'd make ev'n Heraclitus laugh | P |
Loves Subaltern a Duteous Band | Q |
Like Watchmen round their Chief appear | R |
Each had his Lanthorn in his Hand | Q |
And Venus mask'd brought up the Rear | R |
- | |
Accouter'd thus their eager Step | S |
To Cloe's Lodging They directed | T |
At once I write alas and weep | U |
That Cloe is of Theft suspected | T |
Late They set out had far to go | V |
St Dunstan's as They pass'd struck One | W |
Cloe for Reasons good You know | V |
Lives at the sober End o'th' Town | X |
With one great Peal They rap the Door | Y |
Like Footmen on a Visiting Day | Z |
Folks at Her House at such an Hour | D |
Lord what will all the Neighbours say | Z |
The Door is open'd up They run | W |
Nor Prayers nor Threats divert their Speed | A2 |
Thieves Thieves cries Susan We're undone | W |
They'll kill my Mistress in her Bed | B2 |
In Bed indeed the Nymph had been | C2 |
Three Hours for all Historians say | Z |
She commonly went up at Ten | J |
Unless Picquet was in the Way | Z |
She wak'd be sure with strange Surprize | Z |
O Cupid is this Right or Law | D2 |
Thus to disturb the brightest Eyes | Z |
That ever slept or ever saw | D2 |
Have You observ'd a sitting Hare | E2 |
List'ning and fearful of the Storm | F2 |
Of Horns and Hounds clap back her Ear | G2 |
Afraid to keep or leave her Form | F2 |
- | |
Or have You mark'd a Partridge quake | H2 |
Viewing the tow'ring Faulcon nigh | I2 |
She cuddles low behind the Brake | H2 |
Nor wou'd she stay nor dares she fly | I2 |
Then have You seen the Beauteous Maid | J2 |
When gazing on her Midnight Foes | Z |
She turn'd each Way her frighted Head | B2 |
Then sunk it deap beneath the Cloaths | Z |
Venus this while was in the Chamber | D |
Incognito for Susan said | B2 |
It smelt so strong of Myrrh and Amber | D |
And Susan is no lying Maid | J2 |
But since We have no present Need | A2 |
Of Venus for an Episode | K2 |
With Cupid let us e'en proceed | A2 |
And thus to Cloe spoke the God | L2 |
Hold up your Head hold up your Hand | Q |
Wou'd it were not my Lot to show ye | M2 |
This cruel Writ wherein you stand | Q |
Indicted by the Name of Cloe | V |
For that by secret Malice stirr'd | N2 |
Or by an emulous Pride invited | T |
You have purloin'd the fav'rite Bird | N2 |
In which my Mother most delighted | T |
Her blushing Face the lovely Maid | J2 |
Rais'd just above the milk white Sheet | O2 |
A Rose Tree in a Lilly Bed | B2 |
Nor glows so red nor breathes so sweet | O2 |
- | |
Are You not He whom Virgins fear | R |
And Widows court Is not your Name | P2 |
Cupid If so pray come not near | R |
Fair Maiden I'm the very same | P2 |
Then what have I good Sir to say | Z |
Or do with Her You call your Mother | D |
If I shou'd meet Her in my Way | Z |
We hardly court'sy to each other | D |
Diana Chaste and Hebe Sweet | O2 |
Witness that what I speak is true | Q2 |
I wou'd not give my Paroquet | O2 |
For all the Doves that ever flew | Q2 |
Yet to compose this Midnight Noise | Z |
Go freely search where e'er you please | Z |
The Rage that rais'd adorn'd Her Voice | Z |
Upon yon' Toilet lie my Keys | Z |
Her Keys He takes her Doors unlocks | Z |
Thro' Wardrobe and thro' Closet bounces | Z |
Peeps into ev'ry Chest and Box | Z |
Turns all her Furbeloes and Flounces | Z |
But Dove depend on't finds He none | W |
So to the Bed returns again | J |
And now the Maiden bolder grown | R2 |
Begins to treat Him with Disdain | H |
I marvel much She smiling said | O2 |
Your Poultry cannot yet be found | O2 |
Lies he in yonder Slipper dead | O2 |
Or may be in the Tea pot drown'd | O2 |
- | |
No Traytor angry Love replies | Z |
He's hid somewhere about Your Breast | O2 |
A Place nor God nor Man denies | Z |
For Venus' Dove the proper Nest | O2 |
Search then She said put in your Hand | O2 |
And Cynthia dear Protectress guard Me | M2 |
As guilty I or free may stand | O2 |
Do Thou or punish or reward Me | M2 |
But ah what Maid to Love can trust | O2 |
He scorns and breaks all Legal Power | D |
Into her Breast his Hand He thrust | O2 |
And in a Moment forc'd it lower | D |
O whither do those Fingers rove | S2 |
Cries Cloe treacherous Urchin whither | D |
O Venus I shall find thy Dove | F |
Says He for sure I touch his Feather | D |
Matthew Prior
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Dove poem by Matthew Prior
Best Poems of Matthew Prior