The Traveller; Or, A Prospect Of Society (excerpt) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJK LLMMNNOOPPQQCCRRSS TTIIUU RRMMVV PPWWXXYYZZA2A2 B2B2XC2SSD2D2IIE2E2T TF2F2G2G2FFH2H2 MMIII2I2J2K2L2L2M2M2 IIN2N2O2O2P2P2A | |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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
(1)
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