Birth-day Ode, 1796 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCCADEDE FFGHHGII JJKFFKK LLMFMF FFFFNNGFFG OPKGGKBQBR| And wouldst thou seek the low abode | A |
| Where PEACE delights to dwell | B |
| Pause Traveller on thy way of life | C |
| With many a snare and peril rife | C |
| Is that long labyrinth of road | A |
| Dark is the vale of years before | D |
| Pause Traveller on thy way | E |
| Nor dare the dangerous path explore | D |
| Till old EXPERIENCE comes to lend his leading ray | E |
| - | |
| Not he who comes with lanthorn light | F |
| Shall guide thy groping pace aright | F |
| With faltering feet and slow | G |
| No let him rear the torch on high | H |
| And every maze shall meet thine eye | H |
| And every snare and every foe | G |
| Then with steady step and strong | I |
| Traveller shalt thou march along | I |
| - | |
| Tho' POWER invite thee to her hall | J |
| Regard not thou her tempting call | J |
| Her splendors meteor glare | K |
| Tho' courteous Flattery there await | F |
| And Wealth adorn the dome of State | F |
| There stalks the midnight spectre CARE | K |
| PEACE Traveller does not sojourn there | K |
| - | |
| If FAME allure thee climb not thou | L |
| To that steep mountain's craggy brow | L |
| Where stands her stately pile | M |
| For far from thence does PEACE abide | F |
| And thou shall find FAME'S favouring smile | M |
| Cold as the feeble Sun on Heclas snow clad side | F |
| - | |
| And Traveller as thou hopest to find | F |
| That low and loved abode | F |
| Retire thee from the thronging road | F |
| And shun the mob of human kind | F |
| Ah I hear how old EXPERIENCE schools | N |
| Fly fly the crowd of Knaves and Fools | N |
| And thou shalt fly from woe | G |
| The one thy heedless heart will greet | F |
| With Judas smile and thou wilt meet | F |
| In every Fool a Foe | G |
| - | |
| So safely mayest thou pass from these | O |
| And reach secure the home of PEACE | P |
| And FRIENDSHIP find thee there | K |
| No happier state can mortal know | G |
| No happier lot can Earth bestow | G |
| If LOVE thy lot shall share | K |
| Yet still CONTENT with him may dwell | B |
| Whom HYMEN will not bless | Q |
| And VIRTUE sojourn in the cell | B |
| Of HERMIT HAPPINESS | R |
Robert Southey
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