Sheridan Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFGH CICJ KLKM NONO PQPQ RJSI CTCT UCUC VWVW XYXY CZCZ A2B2C2V D2E2F2E2 UB2UB2 A2G2H2I2 J2YJ2Y F2K2F2K2 L2M2L2M2 L2L2L2L2 OL2OL2 L2KL2K IL2JL2 CL2CL2 N2L2N2L2 AO2AO2 A2L2A2L2 L2L2L2L2 CFCF KL2P2L2 O2IO2IEmbalm'd in fame and sacred from decay | A |
What mighty name in arms in arts or verse | B |
From England claims this consecrated day | A |
Her nobles crowding round the shadowy hearse | B |
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Hark from yon fane within whose hallow'd mounds | C |
Her bards her warriors and her statesmen sleep | D |
The solemn slow funereal bell resounds | C |
While mournful echoes dread accordance keep | D |
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Spirits revered beyond that awful bourne | E |
Who share the dark communion of the tomb | F |
A kindred genius seeks your dread sojourn | G |
Ye heirs of glory hail a brother home | H |
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Obscured as SHERIDAN to dust descends | C |
Recedes each ray from Wit's effulgent sphere | I |
Lo every Muse in silent sorrow bends | C |
Her votive laurels mingling o'er his bier | J |
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But chiefly thou from whose polluted shrine | K |
His filial hand Circean rabble drove | L |
What pangs Thalia in this hour are thine | K |
What fervent anguish of maternal love | M |
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How long perverted had the Comic scene | N |
The flattering reflex of a sensual age | O |
Shown prurient Folly's rank licentious mien | N |
Refined embellish'd on the pander stage | O |
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While Vanburgh Congreve Farquhar heaven endow'd | P |
To scourge bold Vice with Wit's resistless rod | Q |
Embraced her chains stood forth her priests avow'd | P |
And scatter'd flowers in every path she trod | Q |
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Inglorious praise though Judgment's self admired | R |
Those wanton strains which Virtue blush'd to hear | J |
While pamper'd Passion from the scene retired | S |
With wilder rage to urge his fierce career | I |
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At length all graced in Fancy's orient hues | C |
His native fires with added culture bright | T |
Rose SHERIDAN to vindicate the Muse | C |
And gild the drama with meridian light | T |
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Him skill'd alike great Nature's genuine form | U |
Or Fashion's light factitious traits to trace | C |
The scene confess'd with glowing pathos warm | U |
Or gaily sportive in familiar grace | C |
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With what nice art his master hand he flung | V |
O'er each fine chord which thrills the polish'd breast | W |
Let Faukland tell with woes ideal stung | V |
Let gentle Julia's generous flame attest | W |
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Satire that oft with castigation rude | X |
Degrades while zealous to correct mankind | Y |
Refined by him more generous aims pursued | X |
Reform'd the vice but left no sting behind | Y |
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Yet though with Wit's imperishable bays | C |
Enwreath'd he held an uncontested throne | Z |
Though circling climes unanimous in praise | C |
Confirm'd the partial suffrage of his own | Z |
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In careless mood he sought the Muse's bower | A2 |
His lyre like that to great Pelides strong | B2 |
The soft'ning solace of a vacant boor | C2 |
Its airy descant indolently rung | V |
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But when portentous 'mid the storms of war | D2 |
Glared Public danger when with withering din | E2 |
The spoil flush'd foe strode furious from afar | F2 |
And direr dread Rebellion raged within | E2 |
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Then SHERIDAN dilating to the storm | U |
Bright as the pharos as the watch tower strong | B2 |
With all the patriot's inspiration warm | U |
Thy genius pour'd its thundering voice along | B2 |
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Who heard thee not in that tremendous hour | A2 |
When Britain mourn'd her surest anchor lost | G2 |
And saw her alienated Navies lour | H2 |
Like the charged tempest round their parent coast | I2 |
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With active zeal which no cold medium knew | J2 |
Nor party ruled nor prejudice confined | Y |
But to thy heart's spontaneous impulse true | J2 |
Thou gay'st thy country ALL thy mighty mind | Y |
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What time Iberia gash'd with many a scar | F2 |
Braved the fierce Gaul in fervour uncontroll'd | K2 |
Though doubts and fears bedimm'd her struggling star | F2 |
Its bright ascent thy prescient soul foretold | K2 |
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Late too when France with sophist cunning fraught | L2 |
Essay'd that field which force had fail'd to gain | M2 |
And proudly question'd by success untaught | L2 |
Britannia's lineal right her watery reign | M2 |
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While meaner foes denounced with equal hate | L2 |
Her flag which wide in Freedom's cause unfurl'd | L2 |
The saving sign of many a sinking state | L2 |
Had chased Oppression from th' insulted world | L2 |
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Oh that beyond the light diurnal page | O |
Inscribed on high in monumental gold | L2 |
That strain might kindle each succeeding age | O |
Which thus thy generous indignation roll'd | L2 |
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If e'er of ancient energy bereaved | L2 |
Britannia bent by menace or design | K |
Should stain her naval sceptre hard achieved | L2 |
And yield one claim one cherish'd right resign | K |
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Then hurl'd in ruin from her radiant sphere | I |
Sunk her proud Isle in Ocean's depths profound | L2 |
May all her glories pass from Memory's ear | J |
An idle legend a derided sound | L2 |
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Such were his merits whom the Muse deplores | C |
The Wit the Statesman Orator and Bard | L2 |
Nor when his frailties jealous truth explores | C |
Shall Candour shrink from her supreme award | L2 |
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If all propitious when his ardent prime | N2 |
Beat high with hope in conscious powers elate | L2 |
Ambition woo'd him from her height sublime | N2 |
And partial Fortune op'd her golden gate | L2 |
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What hostile influence glooming o'er his way | A |
Chill'd each fine impulse each aspiring aim | O2 |
Effused bleak clouds round Life's declining ray | A |
And left his labours no reward but fame | O2 |
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'Twas not alone that in the festive bower | A2 |
Prompt in the social sympathies to melt | L2 |
Too long he linger'd that the genial hour | A2 |
His fervid sense too exquisitely felt | L2 |
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But that in tasks of public duty proved | L2 |
Onward with faith inflexible he trod | L2 |
Alike by Fortune's dazzling lure unmoved | L2 |
Or stern Necessity's relentless rod | L2 |
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E'en Envy's self shall sanction that applause | C |
And oft slow pacing yon sepulchral gloom | F |
With fond regret shall Meditation pause | C |
And breathe these accents o'er his honour'd tomb | F |
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Ye Muses come with ministry divine | K |
Protect the shrine where SHERIDAN is laid | L2 |
Ye Patriot Virtues here your homage join | P2 |
Assert his worth and soothe his hovering shade | L2 |
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Emblazon'd high in Albion's rolls of fame | O2 |
A guiding star by which her sons may steer | I |
This proud inscription let his memory claim | O2 |
Above himself he held his Country dear | I |
Thomas Gent
(1)
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