To His Honour The Lieutenant-governor, On The Death Of His Lady Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDEEAFGGHHIIJJKL MNOOPPQQRRCCSSTTBBCU HHVV| All Conquering Death by thy resistless pow'r | A |
| Hope's tow'ring plumage falls to rise no more | B |
| Of scenes terrestrial how the glories fly | C |
| Forget their splendors and submit to die | C |
| Who ere escap'd thee but the saint of old | D |
| Beyond the flood in sacred annals told | D |
| And the great sage whom fiery coursers drew | E |
| To heav'n's bright portals from Elisha's view | E |
| Wond'ring he gaz'd at the refulgent car | A |
| Then snatch'd the mantle floating on the air | F |
| From Death these only could exemption boast | G |
| And without dying gain'd th' immortal coast | G |
| Not falling millions sate the tyrant's mind | H |
| Nor can the victor's progress be confin'd | H |
| But cease thy strife with Death fond Nature cease | I |
| He leads the virtuous to the realms of peace | I |
| His to conduct to the immortal plains | J |
| Where heav'n's Supreme in bliss and glory reigns | J |
| There sits illustrious Sir thy beauteous spouse | K |
| A gem blaz'd circle beaming on her brows | L |
| Hail'd with acclaim among the heav'nly choirs | M |
| Her soul new kindling with seraphic fires | N |
| To notes divine she tunes the vocal strings | O |
| While heav'n's high concave with the music rings | O |
| Virtue's rewards can mortal pencil paint | P |
| No all descriptive arts and eloquence are faint | P |
| Nor canst thou Oliver assent refuse | Q |
| To heav'nly tidings from the Afric muse | Q |
| As soon may change thy laws eternal fate | R |
| As the saint miss the glories I relate | R |
| Or her Benevolence forgotten lie | C |
| Which wip'd the trick'ling tear from Misry's eye | C |
| Whene'er the adverse winds were known to blow | S |
| When loss to loss ensu'd and woe to woe | S |
| Calm and serene beneath her father's hand | T |
| She sat resign'd to the divine command | T |
| No longer then great Sir her death deplore | B |
| And let us hear the mournful sigh no more | B |
| Restrain the sorrow streaming from thine eye | C |
| Be all thy future moments crown'd with joy | U |
| Nor let thy wishes be to earth confin'd | H |
| But soaring high pursue th' unbodied mind | H |
| Forgive the muse forgive th' advent'rous lays | V |
| That fain thy soul to heav'nly scenes would raise | V |
Phillis Wheatley
(1)
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