Threnodia Augustalis: Overture - A Solemn Dirge Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AB C DCDC AE FFGFGHHIJKLMK NNOPPOQRMQSTSTMUHHVW VWXYXY YVWVW YYYY FQZA2ZB2CCB2C2C2D2FF D2 E2E2YF2F2YF2F2G2G2 YF2F2G2G2YYG2G2 FF2FFYYFYHFYYH2A2OI2 YJ2QB2F2F2B2SSWWK2K2 YYYF2F2L2M2WW FYYF2F2E2N2O2N2B2D2B 2D2P2P2A2A2HH YHH

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF HER LATE ROYAL HIGHNESSA
THE PRINCESS DOWAGER OF WALESB
-
AIR TRIOC
-
ARISE ye sons of worth ariseD
And waken every note of woeC
When truth and virtue reach the skiesD
'Tis ours to weep the want belowC
-
CHORUSA
When truth and virtue etcE
-
MAN SPEAKERF
The praise attending pomp and powerF
The incense given to kingsG
Are but the trappings of an hourF
Mere transitory thingsG
The base bestow them but the good agreeH
To spurn the venal gifts as flatteryH
But when to pomp and power are join'dI
An equal dignity of mindJ
When titles are the smallest claimK
When wealth and rank and noble bloodL
But aid the power of doing goodM
Then all their trophies last and flattery turns to fameK
-
Bless'd spirit thou whose fame just born to bloomN
Shall spread and flourish from the tombN
How hast thou left mankind for heavenO
Even now reproach and faction mournP
And wondering how their rage was borneP
Request to be forgivenO
Alas they never had thy hateQ
Unmov'd in conscious rectitudeR
Thy towering mind self centred stoodM
Nor wanted man's opinion to be greatQ
In vain to charm thy ravish'd sightS
A thousand gifts would fortune sendT
In vain to drive thee from the rightS
A thousand sorrows urg'd thy endT
Like some well fashion'd arch thy patience stoodM
And purchas'd strength from its increasing loadU
Pain met thee like a friend that set thee freeH
Affliction still is virtue's opportunityH
Virtue on herself relyingV
Ev'ry passion hush'd to restW
Loses ev'ry pain of dyingV
In the hopes of being blestW
Ev'ry added pang she suffersX
Some increasing good bestowsY
Ev'ry shock that malice offersX
Only rocks her to reposeY
-
SONG BY A MAN AFFETTUOSOY
Virtue on herself relyingV
Ev'ry passion hush'd to restW
Loses ev'ry pain of dyingV
In the hopes of being blestW
-
Ev'ry added pang she suffersY
Some increasing good bestowsY
Ev'ry shock that malice offersY
Only rocks her to reposeY
-
WOMAN SPEAKERF
Yet ah what terrors frowned upon her fateQ
Death with its formidable bandZ
Fever and pain and pale consumptive careA2
Determin'd took their standZ
Nor did the cruel ravagers designB2
To finish all their efforts at a blowC
But mischievously slowC
They robb'd the relic and defac'd the shrineB2
With unavailing griefC2
Despairing of reliefC2
Her weeping children roundD2
Beheld each hourF
Death's growing powerF
And trembled as he frown'dD2
-
As helpless friends who view from shoreE2
The labouring ship and hear the tempest roarE2
While winds and waves their wishes crossY
They stood while hope and comfort failF2
Not to assist but to bewailF2
The inevitable lossY
Relentless tyrant at thy callF2
How do the good the virtuous fallF2
Truth beauty worth and all that most engageG2
But wake thy vengeance and provoke thy rageG2
-
SONG BY A MAN BASSO STACCATO SPIRITOSOY
When vice my dart and scythe supplyF2
How great a king of terrors IF2
If folly fraud your hearts engageG2
Tremble ye mortals at my rageG2
Fall round me fall ye little thingsY
Ye statesmen warriors poets kingsY
If virtue fail her counsel sageG2
Tremble ye mortals at my rageG2
-
MAN SPEAKERF
Yet let that wisdom urged by her exampleF2
Teach us to estimate what all must sufferF
Let us prize death as the best gift of natureF
As a safe inn where weary travellersY
When they have journeyed through a world of caresY
May put off life and be at rest for everF
Groans weeping friends indeed and gloomy sablesY
May oft distract us with their sad solemnityH
The preparation is the executionerF
Death when unmasked shows me a friendly faceY
And is a terror only at a distanceY
For as the line of life conducts me onH2
To Death's great court the prospect seems more fairA2
'Tis Nature's kind retreat that's always openO
To take us in when we have drained the cupI2
Of life or worn our days to wretchednessY
In that secure serene retreatJ2
Where all the humble all the greatQ
Promiscuously reclineB2
Where wildly huddled to the eyeF2
The beggar's pouch and prince's purple lieF2
May every bliss be thineB2
And ah bless'd spirit wheresoe'er thy flightS
Through rolling worlds or fields of liquid lightS
May cherubs welcome their expected guestW
May saints with songs receive thee to their restW
May peace that claimed while here thy warmest loveK2
May blissful endless peace be thine aboveK2
-
SONG BY A WOMAN AMOROSOY
Lovely lasting Peace belowY
Comforter of every woeY
Heav'nly born and bred on highF2
To crown the favourites of the skyF2
Lovely lasting Peace appearL2
This world itself if thou art hereM2
Is once again with Eden blestW
And man contains it in his breastW
-
WOMAN SPEAKERF
Our vows are heard Long long to mortal eyesY
Her soul was fitting to its kindred skiesY
Celestial like her bounty fellF2
Where modest want and patient sorrow dwellF2
Want pass'd for merit at her doorE2
Unseen the modest were suppliedN2
Her constant pity fed the poorO2
Then only poor indeed the day she diedN2
And oh for this while sculpture decks thy shrineB2
And art exhausts profusion roundD2
The tribute of a tear be mineB2
A simple song a sigh profoundD2
There Faith shall come a pilgrim grayP2
To bless the tomb that wraps thy clayP2
And calm Religion shall repairA2
To dwell a weeping hermit thereA2
Truth Fortitude and Friendship shall agreeH
To blend their virtues while they think of theeH
-
AIR CHORUS POMPOSOY
Let us let all the world agreeH
To profit by resembling theeH

Oliver Goldsmith



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