To A Lady Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB DEDE FGHG IJIK BLBM NOPO GQGQ RBRB| Spare gen'rous victor spare the slave | A |
| Who did unequal war pursue | B |
| That more than triumph he might have | C |
| In being overcome by you | B |
| - | |
| In the dispute whate'er I said | D |
| My heart was by my tongue belied | E |
| And in my looks you might have read | D |
| How much I argued on your side | E |
| - | |
| You far from danger as from fear | F |
| Might have sustain'd an open fight | G |
| For seldom your opinions err | H |
| Your eyes are always in the right | G |
| - | |
| Why fair one would you not rely | I |
| On Reason's force with Beauty's join'd | J |
| Could I their prevalence deny | I |
| I must at once be deaf and blind | K |
| - | |
| Alas not hoping to subdue | B |
| I only to the fight aspir'd | L |
| To keep the beauteous foe in view | B |
| Was all the glory I desir'd | M |
| - | |
| But she howe'er of vict'ry sure | N |
| Contemns the wreath too long delay'd | O |
| And arm'd with more immediate pow'r | P |
| Calls cruel silence to her aid | O |
| - | |
| Deeper to wound she shuns the fight | G |
| She drops her arms to gain the field | Q |
| Secures her conquest by her flight | G |
| And triumphs when she seems to yield | Q |
| - | |
| So when the Parthian turn'd his steed | R |
| And from the hostile camp withdrew | B |
| With cruel skill the backward reed | R |
| He sent and as he fled he slew | B |
Matthew Prior
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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