Elegy On The Death Of Abraham Goldsmid, Esq. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH IJIJ KFKF LMLM NONO PQPQ PRPR PSTS PUPU PPPP PPPP VWVW PXPF YPYP ZPXP XPFP PA2PA2 B2C2B2C2 APAP PYPY XPXP PPPP

When stern Misfortune monitress severeA
Dissolves Prosperity's enchanting dreamsB
And chased from Man's probationary sphereA
Fair Hope withdraws her vivifying beamsB
-
If then untaught to bend at Heaven's high willC
The desp'rate mortal dares the dread unknownD
To future fate appeals from present illC
And stands uncall'd before th' Eternal throneD
-
Shall justice there immutably decideE
Dread thought which Reason trembles to exploreF
She feels be mercy granted or deniedE
'Tis her's in dumb submission to adoreF
-
Yet could the self doom'd victim be forgivenG
His final error for his merits pastH
Could virtuous life propitiating HeavenG
With former deeds extenuate the lastH
-
Then GOLDSMID Mercy to thy humble shrineI
Angel of heaven beloved should wing her flightJ
Should in her bosom bid thy head reclineI
And waft thee onward to the realms of lightJ
-
And oh could human intercession pleadK
Breathed ardent to'ards that undiscover'd shoreF
What hearts unnumber'd for thy fate that bleedK
Would warm oblations for thy pardon pourF
-
Misfortune's various tribes thy worth should tellL
Whose acts to no peculiar sect confinedM
Impartial with expansive bounty fellL
Like heaven's refreshing dews on all mankindM
-
Where stern Disease his rankling arrows spedN
While Want with hard inexorable bandO
Strew'd keener thorns on Pain's afflictive bedN
And urged the flight of life's diminish'd sandO
-
By hostile stars oppress'd where Talent toil'dP
Encountering fate with perseverance vainQ
The Merchant's hopes when War's dire arm despoil'dP
Or tempests 'whelm'd in the remorseless mainQ
-
GOLDSMID thy hand benign assuagement spreadP
Sustain'd pale sickness drooping o'er the tombR
Raised modest Merit from his lowly shedP
And gave Misfortune's blasted hopes to bloomR
-
Yet wealth too oft perverted from its endP
Suspends the noblest functions of the soulS
Where chill'd as Apathy's cold frosts extendsT
Compassion's sacred stream forgets to rollS
-
And oft where seeming Pity moves the mindP
From self's mean source the liberal current flowsU
While Ostentation insolently kindP
Wounds while he soothes insults while he bestowsU
-
But thy free bounty undebased by prideP
Prompt to anticipate the meek requestP
Unask'd the wants of modest Worth suppliedP
And spared the pang that shook the suppliant's breastP
-
Yet say on Fortune's orb which o'er thy headP
Blazed forth erewhile pre eminently brightP
When dark Adversity her eclipse spreadP
And veil'd its splendours in petrific nightP
-
Did those thy benefits had placed on highV
Who revell'd still in wealth's meridian rayW
Did those impatient to thy succour flyV
Anxious the debt of gratitude to payW
-
Or thy fall'n fortunes coldly whispering roundP
Scowl'd they aloof in that disastrous hourX
On keen Misfortune's agonizing woundP
Did foul Ingratitude her poisons pourF
-
If thy distress such aggravation knewY
Thy first reverse could such perdition waitP
Well might Despair thy generous heart subdueY
And Desperation close the scene of fateP
-
Yet while Distraction urged her purpose direZ
Rose not at Nature's interposed commandP
The sacred claims of Brother Husband SireX
To win the weapon from thy lifted handP
-
Ah yes and ere that agony was o'erX
Ere yet thy soul its last resolve embracedP
What pangs could equal those thy breast that toreF
Thy breast with Nature's tenderest feelings gracedP
-
Those only which at thy accomplish'd fateP
That home display'd thy smiles were wont to blessA2
That dreadful scene what language can relateP
What words describe that exquisite distressA2
-
The Muse recedes in Grief's domestic sceneB2
Th' intrusive gaze prophanes the tears that flowC2
Drop Pity there thy hallowed veil betweenB2
Guard Silence there the sacredness of woeC2
-
Nor let the sectarist whose faith austereA
Pretends alone to point th' eternal roadP
Proud of his creed pronounce with voice severeA
All else excluded from the blest abodeP
-
If error thine not GOLDSMID thine the faultP
Since first thy infant years instruction drewY
From youth's gradations up to manhood taughtP
That faith to reverence which thy fathers knewY
-
In Retribution's last tremendous hourX
When its pale captives long in dust declinedP
The grave shall yield and time shall death devourX
When He who saved shall come to judge mankindP
-
While Christian infidels shall tremble roundP
Who call'd HIM Master whom their acts deniedP
Imputed faith may in thy deeds be foundP
And thy eternal doom those deeds decideP

Thomas Gent



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Elegy On The Death Of Abraham Goldsmid, Esq. poem by Thomas Gent


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 4 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets