To Mæcenas Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DEFFGGHHIIAAJK LLMMNOGGPP QRSTIU VVWWBB UUXXY LLZZA2A2B2B2

M cenas you beneath the myrtle shadeA
Read o'er what poets sung and shepherds play'dA
What felt those poets but you feel the sameB
Does not your soul possess the sacred flameB
Their noble strains your equal genius sharesC
In softer language and diviner airsC
-
While Homer paints lo circumfus'd in airD
Celestial Gods in mortal forms appearE
Swift as they move hear each recess reboundF
Heav'n quakes earth trembles and the shores resoundF
Great Sire of verse before my mortal eyesG
The lightnings blaze across the vaulted skiesG
And as the thunder shakes the heav'nly plainsH
A deep felt horror thrills through all my veinsH
When gentler strains demand thy graceful songI
The length'ning line moves languishing alongI
When great Patroclus courts Achilles' aidA
The grateful tribute of my tears is paidA
Prone on the shore he feels the pangs of loveJ
And stern Pelides tend'rest passions moveK
-
Great Maro's strain in heav'nly numbers flowsL
The Nine inspire and all the bosom glowsL
O could I rival thine and Virgil's pageM
Or claim the Muses with the Mantuan SageM
Soon the same beauties should my mind adornN
And the same ardors in my soul should burnO
Then should my song in bolder notes ariseG
And all my numbers pleasingly surpriseG
But here I sit and mourn a grov'ling mindP
That fain would mount and ride upon the windP
-
Not you my friend these plaintive strains becomeQ
Not you whose bosom is the Muses homeR
When they from tow'ring Helicon retireS
They fan in you the bright immortal fireT
But I less happy cannot raise the songI
The fault'ring music dies upon my tongueU
-
The happier Terence all the choir inspir'dV
His soul replenish'd and his bosom fir'dV
But say ye Muses why this partial graceW
To one alone of Afric's sable raceW
From age to age transmitting thus his nameB
With the first glory in the rolls of fameB
-
Thy virtues great M cenas shall be sungU
In praise of him from whom those virtues sprungU
While blooming wreaths around thy temples spreadX
I'll snatch a laurel from thine honour'd headX
While you indulgent smile upon the deedY
-
As long as Thames in streams majestic flowsL
Or Naiads in their oozy beds reposeL
While Phoebus reigns above the starry trainZ
While bright Aurora purples o'er the mainZ
So long great Sir the muse thy praise shall singA2
So long thy praise shal' make Parnassus ringA2
Then grant M cenas thy paternal raysB2
Hear me propitious and defend my laysB2

Phillis Wheatley



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