Ode On A Distant Prospect Of Eton College Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDEFGHF BIBIEEJKLJ MNMNOPQRRQ STUVIIDWWX YYYYZZA2YYA2 B2FC2FYYIYYD2 DYDYLLYDDY E2TF2VTTEYYE G2MH2MI2I2J2YYJ2 D2K2IK2YYE2F2L2E2

Ye distant spires ye antique towersA
That crown the watery gladeB
Where grateful Science still adoresC
Her Henry's holy shadeB
And ye that from the stately browD
Of Windsor's heights th' expanse belowE
Of grove of lawn of mead surveyF
Whose turf whose shade whose flowers amongG
Wanders the hoary Thames alongH
His silver winding wayF
-
Ah happy hills ah pleasing shadeB
Ah fields beloved in vainI
Where once my careless childhood strayedB
A stranger yet to painI
I feel the gales that from ye blowE
A momentary bliss bestowE
As waving fresh their gladsome wingJ
My weary soul they seem to sootheK
And redolent of joy and youthL
To breathe a second springJ
-
Say Father Thames for thou hast seenM
Full many a sprightly raceN
Disporting on thy margent greenM
The paths of pleasure traceN
Who foremost now delight to cleaveO
With pliant arm thy glassy waveP
The captive linnet which enthralQ
What idle progeny succeedR
To chase the rolling circle's speedR
Or urge the flying ballQ
-
While some on earnest business bentS
Their murm'ring labours plyT
'Gainst graver hours that bring constraintU
To sweeten libertyV
Some bold adventurers disdainI
The limits of their little reignI
And unknown regions dare descryD
Still as they run they look behindW
They hear a voice in every windW
And snatch a fearful joyX
-
Gay hope is theirs by fancy fedY
Less pleasing when possestY
The tear forgot as soon as shedY
The sunshine of the breastY
Theirs buxom health of rosy hueZ
Wild wit invention ever newZ
And lively cheer of vigour bornA2
The thoughtless day the easy nightY
The spirits pure the slumbers lightY
That fly th' approach of mornA2
-
Alas regardless of their doomB2
The little victims playF
No sense have they of ills to comeC2
Nor care beyond todayF
Yet see how all around 'em waitY
The Ministers of human fateY
And black Misfortune's baleful trainI
Ah show them where in ambush standY
To seize their prey the murd'rous bandY
Ah tell them they are menD2
-
These shall the fury Passions tearD
The vultures of the mindY
Disdainful Anger pallid FearD
And Shame that skulks behindY
Or pining Love shall waste their youthL
Or Jealousy with rankling toothL
That inly gnaws the secret heartY
And Envy wan and faded CareD
Grim visaged comfortless DespairD
And Sorrow's piercing dartY
-
Ambition this shall tempt to riseE2
Then whirl the wretch from highT
To bitter Scorn a sacrificeF2
And grinning InfamyV
The stings of Falsehood those shall tryT
And hard Unkindness' altered eyeT
That mocks the tear it forced to flowE
And keen Remorse with blood defiledY
And moody Madness laughing wildY
Amid severest woeE
-
Lo in the vale of years beneathG2
A grisly troop are seenM
The painful family of DeathH2
More hideous than their QueenM
This racks the joints this fires the veinsI2
That every labouring sinew strainsI2
Those in the deeper vitals rageJ2
Lo Poverty to fill the bandY
That numbs the soul with icy handY
And slow consuming AgeJ2
-
To each his suff'rings all are menD2
Condemned alike to groanK2
The tender for another's painI
Th' unfeeling for his ownK2
Yet ah why should they know their fateY
Since sorrow never comes too lateY
And happiness too swiftly fliesE2
Thought would destroy their paradiseF2
No more where ignorance is blissL2
'Tis folly to be wiseE2

Thomas Gray



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