Alciphron: A Fragment. Letter Ii Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B CCDDEEFFDDGGHHIIJJAA KK LLMMNNNOOPPGGQQRRJJS STTUU VVFFWWXYZZA2A2B2B2C2 C2D2D2UUE2E2F2F2RRG2 G2 LLH2H2I2I2J2J2A2A2K2 K2L2L2L2M2M2N2N2O2O2 P2P2Q2Q2C2C2R2K2UUC2 C2S2S2T2T2U2U2G2G2 V2V2W2W2WWJJX2X2H2H2 H2H2 H2H2A2A2UY2Z2Z2A3A3B 3B3C3C3MMH2H2UUH2H2D 3D3E3E3LLF3F3G3G3H3H 3A2A2V2V2I3I3 E3E3UCH2H2H2H2H2H2J3 D3D3E3E3HK3H2H2A2A2H 2H2C2C2E3E3L3L3GGB3B 3

FROM THE SAME TO THE SAMEA
-
MemphisB
-
-
'Tis true alas the mysteries and the loreC
I came to study on this wondrous shoreC
Are all forgotten in the new delightsD
The strange wild joys that fill my days and nightsD
Instead of dark dull oracles that speakE
From subterranean temples those I seekE
Come from the breathing shrines where Beauty livesF
And Love her priest the soft responses givesF
Instead of honoring Isis in those ritesD
At Coptos held I hail her when she lightsD
Her first young crescent on the holy streamG
When wandering youths and maidens watch her beamG
And number o'er the nights she hath to runH
Ere she again embrace her bridegroom sunH
While o'er some mystic leaf that dimly lendsI
A clew into past times the student bendsI
And by its glimmering guidance learns to treadJ
Back thro' the shadowy knowledge of the deadJ
The only skill alas I yet can claimA
Lies in deciphering some new loved one's nameA
Some gentle missive hinting time and placeK
In language soft as Memphian reed can traceK
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And where oh where's the heart that could withstandL
The unnumbered witcheries of this sun born landL
Where first young Pleasure's banner was unfurledM
And Love hath temples ancient as the worldM
Where mystery like the veil by Beauty wornN
Hides but to win and shades but to adornN
Where that luxurious melancholy bornN
Of passion and of genius sheds a gloomO
Making joy holy where the bower and tombO
Stand side by side and Pleasure learns from DeathP
The instant value of each moment's breathP
Couldst thou but see how like a poet's dreamG
This lovely land now looks the glorious streamG
That late between its banks was seen to glideQ
'Mong shrines and marble cities on each sideQ
Glittering like jewels strung along a chainR
Hath now sent forth its waters and o'er plainR
And valley like a giant from his bedJ
Rising with outstretched limbs hath grandly spreadJ
While far as sight can reach beneath as clearS
And blue a heaven as ever blest our sphereS
Gardens and pillared streets and porphyry domesT
And high built temples fit to be the homesT
Of mighty Gods and pyramids whose hourU
Outlasts all time above the waters towerU
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Then too the scenes of pomp and joy that makeV
One theatre of this vast peopled lakeV
Where all that Love Religion Commerce givesF
Of life and motion ever moves and livesF
Here up the steps of temples from the waveW
Ascending in procession slow and graveW
Priests in white garments go with sacred wandsX
And silver cymbals gleaming in their handsY
While there rich barks fresh from those sunny tractsZ
Far off beyond the sounding cataractsZ
Glide with their precious lading to the seaA2
Plumes of bright birds rhinoceros ivoryA2
Gems from the Isle of Meroe and those grainsB2
Of gold washed down by Abyssinian rainsB2
Here where the waters wind into a bayC2
Shadowy and cool some pilgrims on their wayC2
To Sa s or Bubastus among bedsD2
Of lotus flowers that close above their headsD2
Push their light barks and there as in a bowerU
Sing talk or sleep away the sultry hourU
Oft dipping in the Nile when faint with heatE2
That leaf from which its waters drink most sweetE2
While haply not far off beneath a bankF2
Of blossoming acacias many a prankF2
Is played in the cool current by a trainR
Of laughing nymphs lovely as she whose chainR
Around two conquerors of the world was castG2
But for a third too feeble broke at lastG2
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For oh believe not them who dare to brandL
As poor in charms the women of this landL
Tho' darkened by that sun whose spirit flowsH2
Thro' every vein and tinges as it goesH2
'Tis but the embrowning of the fruit that tellsI2
How rich within the soul of ripeness dwellsI2
The hue their own dark sanctuaries wearJ2
Announcing heaven in half caught glimpses thereJ2
And never yet did tell tale looks set freeA2
The secret of young hearts more tenderlyA2
Such eyes long shadowy with that languid fallK2
Of the fringed lids which may be seen in allK2
Who live beneath the sun's too ardent raysL2
Lending such looks as on their marriage daysL2
Young maids cast down before a bridegroom's gazeL2
Then for their grace mark but the nymph like shapesM2
Of the young village girls when carrying grapesM2
From green Anthylla or light urns of flowersN2
Not our own Sculpture in her happiest hoursN2
E'er imaged forth even at the touch of himO2
Whose touch was life more luxury of limbO2
Then canst thou wonder if mid scenes like theseP2
I should forget all graver mysteriesP2
All lore but Love's all secrets but that bestQ2
In heaven or earth the art of being blestQ2
Yet are there times tho' brief I own their stayC2
Like summer clouds that shine themselves awayC2
Moments of gloom when even these pleasures pallR2
Upon my saddening heart and I recallK2
That garden dream that promise of a powerU
Oh were there such to lengthen out life's hourU
On on as thro' a vista far awayC2
Opening before us into endless dayC2
And chiefly o'er my spirit did this thoughtS2
Come on that evening bright as ever broughtS2
Light's golden farewell to the world when firstT2
The eternal pyramids of Memphis burstT2
Awfully on my sight standing sublimeU2
Twixt earth and heaven the watch towers of TimeU2
From whose lone summit when his reign hath pastG2
From earth for ever he will look his lastG2
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There hung a calm and solemn sunshine roundV2
Those mighty monuments a hushing soundV2
In the still air that circled them which stoleW2
Like music of past times into my soulW2
I thought what myriads of the wise and braveW
And beautiful had sunk into the graveW
Since earth first saw these wonders and I saidJ
Are things eternal only for the DeadJ
Hath Man no loftier hope than this which doomsX2
His only lasting trophies to be tombsX2
But 'tis not so earth heaven all nature showsH2
He may become immortal may uncloseH2
The wings within him wrapt and proudly riseH2
Redeemed from earth a creature of the skiesH2
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And who can say among the written spellsH2
From Hermes' hand that in these shrines and cellsH2
Have from the Flood lay hid there may not beA2
Some secret clew to immortalityA2
Some amulet whose spell can keep life's fireU
Awake within us never to expireY2
'Tis known that on the Emerald Table hidZ2
For ages in yon loftiest pyramidZ2
The Thrice Great did himself engrave of oldA3
The chymic mystery that gives endless goldA3
And why may not this mightier secret dwellB3
Within the same dark chambers who can tellB3
But that those kings who by the written skillC3
Of the Emerald Table called forth gold at willC3
And quarries upon quarries heapt and hurledM
To build them domes that might outstand the worldM
Who knows but that the heavenlier art which sharesH2
The life of Gods with man was also theirsH2
That they themselves triumphant o'er the powerU
Of fate and death are living at this hourU
And these the giant homes they still possessH2
Not tombs but everlasting palacesH2
Within whose depths hid from the world aboveD3
Even now they wander with the few they loveD3
Thro' subterranean gardens by a lightE3
Unknown on earth which hath nor dawn nor nightE3
Else why those deathless structures why the grandL
And hidden halls that undermine this landL
Why else hath none of earth e'er dared to goF3
Thro' the dark windings of that realm belowF3
Nor aught from heaven itself except the GodG3
Of Silence thro' those endless labyrinths trodG3
Thus did I dream wild wandering dreams I ownH3
But such as haunt me ever if aloneH3
Or in that pause 'twixt joy and joy I beA2
Like a ship husht between two waves at seaA2
Then do these spirit whisperings like the soundV2
Of the Dark Future come appalling roundV2
Nor can I break the trance that holds me thenI3
Till high o'er Pleasure's surge I mount againI3
-
Even now for new adventure new delightE3
My heart is on the wing this very nightE3
The Temple on that island halfway o'erU
From Memphis' gardens to the eastern shoreC
Sends up its annual rite to her whose beamsH2
Bring the sweet time of night flowers and dreamsH2
The nymph who dips her urn in silent lakesH2
And turns to silvery dew each drop it takesH2
Oh not our Dian of the North who chainsH2
In vestal ice the current of young veinsH2
But she who haunts the gay Bubastian groveJ3
And owns she sees from her bright heaven aboveD3
Nothing on earth to match that heaven but LoveD3
Think then what bliss will be abroad to nightE3
Besides those sparkling nymphs who meet the sightE3
Day after day familiar as the sunH
Coy buds of beauty yet unbreathed uponK3
And all the hidden loveliness that liesH2
Shut up as are the beams of sleeping eyesH2
Within these twilight shrines tonight shall beA2
Let loose like birds for this festivityA2
And mark 'tis nigh already the sun bidsH2
His evening farewell to the PyramidsH2
As he hath done age after age till theyC2
Alone on earth seem ancient as his rayC2
While their great shadows stretching from the lightE3
Look like the first colossal steps of NightE3
Stretching across the valley to invadeL3
The distant hills of porphyry with their shadeL3
Around as signals of the setting beamG
Gay gilded flags on every housetop gleamG
While hark from all the temples a rich swellB3
Of music to the Moon farewell farewellB3

Thomas Moore



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