Abt Vogler Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCBCDEDF GHGHIJIJ KLMLNOPO QR R GSGS QTOTOUVVV WXWRKOYO VSVSOOOO OTOTOQOQ YDYDYZOZO YONONO O YYOYOA2TB2T YVYVYOC2OC2

After he has been extemporizing upon the musical instrument of his inventionA
-
-
I-
Would that the structure brave the manifold music I buildB
Bidding my organ obey calling its keys to their workC
Claiming each slave of the sound at a touch as when Solomon willedB
Armies of angels that soar legions of demons that lurkC
Man brute reptile fly alien of end and of aimD
Adverse each from the other heaven high hell deep removedE
Should rush into sight at once as he named the ineffable NameD
And pile him a palace straight to pleasure the princess he lovedF
-
II-
Would it might tarry like his the beautiful building of mineG
This which my keys in a crowd pressed and importuned to raiseH
Ah one and all how they helped would dispart now and now combineG
Zealous to hasten the work heighten their master his praiseH
And one would bury his brow with a blind plunge down to hellI
Burrow awhile and build broad on the roots of thingsJ
Then up again swim into sight having based me my palace wellI
Founded it fearless of flame flat on the nether springsJ
-
III-
And another would mount and march like the excellent minion he wasK
Ay another and yet another one crowd but with many a crestL
Raising my rampired walls of gold as transparent as glassM
Eager to do and die yield each his place to the restL
For higher still and higher as a runner tips with fireN
When a great illumination surprises a festal nightO
Outlining round and round Rome's dome from space to spireP
Up the pinnacled glory reached and the pride of my soul was in sightO
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IVQ
In sight Not half for it seemed it was certain to match man s birthR
Nature in turn conceived obeying an impulse as I-
And the emulous heaven yearned down made effort to reach the earthR
As the earth had done her best in my passion to scale the sky-
Novel splendours burst forth grew familiar and dwelt with mineG
Not a point nor peak but found and fixed its wandering starS
Meteor moons balls of blaze and they did not pale nor pineG
For earth had attained to heaven there was no more near nor farS
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VQ
Nay more for there wanted not who walked in the glare and glowT
Presences plain in the place or fresh from the ProtoplastO
Furnished for ages to come when a kindlier wind should blowT
Lured now to begin and live in a house to their liking at lastO
Or else the wonderful Dead who have passed through the body and goneU
But were back once more to breathe in an old world worth their newV
What never had been was now what was as it shall be anonV
And what is shall I say matched both for I was made perfect tooV
-
VI-
All through my keys that gave their sounds to a wish of my soulW
All through my soul that praised as its wish flowed visibly forthX
All through music and me For think had I painted the wholeW
Why there it had stood to see nor the process so wonder worthR
Had I written the same made verse still effect proceeds from causeK
Ye know why the forms are fair ye hear how the tale is toldO
It is all triumphant art but art in obedience to lawsY
Painter and poet are proud in the artist list enrolledO
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VII-
But here is the finger of God a flash of the will that canV
Existent behind all laws that made them and lo they areS
And I know not if save in this such gift be allowed to manV
That out of three sounds he frame not a fourth sound but a starS
Consider it well each tone of our scale in itself is noughtO
It is everywhere in the world loud soft and all is saidO
Give it to me to use I mix it with two in my thoughtO
And there Ye have heard and seen consider and bow the headO
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VIII-
Well it is gone at last the palace of music I rearedO
Gone and the good tears start the praises that come too slowT
For one is assured at first one scarce can say that he fearedO
That he even gave it a thought the gone thing was to goT
Never to be again But many more of the kindO
As good nay better perchance is this your comfort to meQ
To me who must be saved because I cling with my mindO
To the same same self same love same God ay what was shall beQ
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IXY
Therefore to whom turn I but to Thee the ineffable NameD
Builder and maker Thou of houses not made with handsY
What have fear of change from Thee who art ever the sameD
Doubt that Thy power can fill the heart that Thy power expandsY
There shall never be one lost good What was shall live as beforeZ
The evil is null is nought is silence implying soundO
What was good shall be good with for evil so much good moreZ
On the earth the broken arcs in the heaven a perfect roundO
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XY
All we have willed or hoped or dreamed of good shall existO
Not its semblance but itself no beauty nor good nor powerN
Whose voice has gone forth but each survives for the melodistO
When eternity affirms the conception of an hourN
The high that proved too high the heroic for earth too hardO
The passion that left the ground to lose itself in the sky-
Are music sent up to God by the lover and the bardO
Enough that He heard it once we shall hear it by and by-
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XIY
And what is our failure here but a triumph's evidenceY
For the fullness of the days Have we withered or agonizedO
Why else was the pause prolonged but that singing might issue thenceY
Why rushed the discords in but that harmony should be prizedO
Sorrow is hard to bear and doubt is slow to clearA2
Each sufferer says his say his scheme of the weal and woeT
But God has a few of us whom He whispers in the earB2
The rest may reason and welcome 'tis we musicians knowT
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XIIY
Well it is earth with me silence resumes her reignV
I will be patient and proud and soberly acquiesceY
Give me the keys I feel for the common chord againV
Sliding by semitones till I sink to the minor yesY
And I blunt it into a ninth and I stand on alien groundO
Surveying awhile the heights I rolled from into the deepC2
Which hark I have dared and done for my resting place is foundO
The C Major of this life so now I will try to sleepC2

Robert Browning



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