Prologue Spoken By Mr. Woods On His Benefit Night, Monday, 16 April, 1787. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCD EEDDDDFFGGHHIIJJKKLL DDMNOOAA PPDDQQDDD| When by a generous Public's kind acclaim | A |
| That dearest meed is granted honest fame | A |
| When here your favour is the actor's lot | B |
| Nor even the man in private life forgot | B |
| What breast so dead to heavenly virtue's glow | C |
| But heaves impassion'd with the grateful throe | D |
| - | |
| Poor is the task to please a barbarous throng | E |
| It needs no Siddons' powers in Southerne's song | E |
| But here an ancient nation fam'd afar | D |
| For genius learning high as great in war | D |
| Hail CALEDONIA name for ever dear | D |
| Before whose sons I'm honoured to appear | D |
| Where every science every nobler art | F |
| That can inform the mind or mend the heart | F |
| Is known as grateful nations oft have found | G |
| Far as the rude barbarian marks the bound | G |
| Philosophy no idle pedant dream | H |
| Here holds her search by heaven taught Reason's beam | H |
| Here History paints with elegance and force | I |
| The tide of Empires' fluctuating course | I |
| Here Douglas forms wild Shakspeare into plan | J |
| And Harley rouses all the god in man | J |
| When well form'd taste and sparkling wit unite | K |
| With manly lore or female beauty bright | K |
| Beauty where faultless symmetry and grace | L |
| Can only charm as in the second place | L |
| Witness my heart how oft with panting fear | D |
| As on this night I've met these judges here | D |
| But still the hope Experience taught to live | M |
| Equal to judge you're candid to forgive | N |
| Nor hundred headed Riot here we meet | O |
| With decency and law beneath his feet | O |
| Nor Insolence assumes fair Freedom's name | A |
| Like CALEDONIANS you applaud or blame | A |
| - | |
| O Thou dread Power whose Empire giving hand | P |
| Has oft been stretch'd to shield the honour'd land | P |
| Strong may she glow with all her ancient fire | D |
| May every son be worthy of his sire | D |
| Firm may she rise with generous disdain | Q |
| At Tyranny's or direr Pleasure's chain | Q |
| Still self dependent in her native shore | D |
| Bold may she brave grim Danger's loudest roar | D |
| Till Fate the curtain drop on worlds to be no more | D |
Robert Burns
(1)
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