The Traveller; Or, A Prospect Of Society (excerpt) Poem Rhyme Scheme

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	A
	-
But where to find that happiest spot below	B
Who can direct when all pretend to know	B
The shudd'ring tenant of the frigid zone	C
Boldly proclaims that happiest spot his own	C
Extols the treasures of his stormy seas	D
And his long nights of revelry and ease	D
The naked negro panting at the line	E
Boasts of his golden sands and palmy wine	E
Basks in the glare or stems the tepid wave	F
And thanks his gods for all the good they gave	F
Such is the patriot's boast where'er we roam	G
His first best country ever is at home	G
And yet perhaps if countries we compare	H
And estimate the blessings which they share	H
Tho' patriots flatter still shall wisdom find	I
An equal portion dealt to all mankind	I
As different good by Art or Nature given	J
To different nations makes their blessings even	K
	-
Nature a mother kind alike to all	L
Still grants her bliss at Labour's earnest call	L
With food as well the peasant is supplied	M
On Idra's cliffs as Arno's shelvy side	M
And though the rocky crested summits frown	N
These rocks by custom turn to beds of down	N
From Art more various are the blessings sent	O
Wealth commerce honour liberty content	O
Yet these each other's power so strong contest	P
That either seems destructive of the rest	P
Where wealth and freedom reign contentment fails	Q
And honour sinks where commerce long prevails	Q
Hence every state to one lov'd blessing prone	C
Conforms and models life to that alone	C
Each to the favourite happiness attends	R
And spurns the plan that aims at other ends	R
Till carried to excess in each domain	S
This favourite good begets peculiar pain	S
	-
But let us try these truths with closer eyes	T
And trace them through the prospect as it lies	T
Here for a while my proper cares resign'd	I
Here let me sit in sorrow for mankind	I
Like yon neglected shrub at random cast	U
That shades the steep and sighs at every blast	U
	-
Far to the right where Apennine ascends	R
Bright as the summer Italy extends	R
Its uplands sloping deck the mountain's side	M
Woods over woods in gay theatric pride	M
While oft some temple's mould'ring tops between	V
With venerable grandeur mark the scene	V
	-
Could Nature's bounty satisfy the breast	P
The sons of Italy were surely blest	P
Whatever fruits in different climes are found	W
That proudly rise or humbly court the ground	W
Whatever blooms in torrid tracts appear	X
Whose bright succession descks the varied year	X
Whatever sweets salute the northern sky	Y
With vernal lives that blossom but to die	Y
These here disporting own the kindred soil	Z
Nor ask luxuriance from the planter's toil	Z
While sea born gales their gelid wings expand	A2
To winnow fragance round the smiling land	A2
	-
But small the bliss that sense alone bestows	B2
And sensual bliss is all the nation knows	B2
In florid beauty groves and fields appear	X
Man seems the only growth that dwindles here	C2
Contrasted faults through all his manners reign	S
Though poor luxurious though submissive vain	S
Though grave yet trifling zealous yet untrue	D2
And e'en in penance planning sins anew	D2
All evils here contaminate the mind	I
That opulence departed leaves behind	I
For wealth was theirs not far removed the date	E2
When commerce proudly flourish'd through the state	E2
At her command the palace learnt to rise	T
Again the long fall'n column sought the skies	T
The canvas glow'd beyond e'en nature warm	F2
The pregnant quarry teem'd with human form	F2
Till more unsteady than the southern gale	G2
Commerce on other shores display'd her sail	G2
While nought remain'd of all that riches gave	F
But towns unmann'd and lords without a slave	F
And late the nation found with fruitless skill	H2
Its former strength was but plethoric ill	H2
	-
Yet still the loss of wealth is here supplied	M
By arts the splendid wrecks of former pride	M
For these the feeble heart and long fall'n mind	I
An easy compensation seem to find	I
Here may be seen in bloodless pomp array'd	I2
The pasteboard triumph and the cavalcade	I2
Processions form'd for piety and love	J2
A mistress or a saint in every grove	K2
By sports like these are all their cares beguil'd	L2
The sports of children satisfy the child	L2
Each nobler aim repress'd by long control	M2
Now sinks at last or feebly mans the soul	M2
While low delights succeeding fast behind	I
In happier meanness occupy the mind	I
As in those domes where Caesars once bore sway	N2
Defac'd by time and tott'ring in decay	N2
There in the ruin heedless of the dead	O2
The shelter seeking peasant builds his shed	O2
And wond'ring man could want the larger pile	P2
Exults and owns his cottage with a smile	P2

Oliver Goldsmith

The Traveller; Or, A Prospect Of Society (excerpt) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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