The Sylph's Ball Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH BFBF IJIJ KLKL MNON PQPQ LRLR SHSH TUTU VUPU WFWF XUXU YWYW UZUZ A2WA2W B2FB2F BC2BC2 A2UA2U FD2FL E2UE2U UF2UF2| A sylph as bright as ever sported | A |
| Her figure thro' the fields of air | B |
| By an old swarthy Gnome was courted | A |
| And strange to say he won the fair | B |
| - | |
| The annals of the oldest witch | C |
| A pair so sorted could not show | D |
| But how refuse the Gnome was rich | C |
| The Rothschild of the world below | D |
| - | |
| And Sylphs like other pretty creatures | E |
| Are told betimes they must consider | F |
| Love as an auctioneer of features | E |
| Who knocks them down to the best bidder | F |
| - | |
| Home she was taken to his Mine | G |
| A Palace paved with diamonds all | H |
| And proud as Lady Gnome to shine | G |
| Sent out her tickets for a ball | H |
| - | |
| The lower world of course was there | B |
| And all the best but of the upper | F |
| The sprinkling was but shy and rare | B |
| A few old Sylphids who loved supper | F |
| - | |
| As none yet knew the wondrous Lamp | I |
| Of DAVY that renowned Aladdin | J |
| And the Gnome's Halls exhaled a damp | I |
| Which accidents from fire were had in | J |
| - | |
| The chambers were supplied with light | K |
| By many strange but safe devices | L |
| Large fire flies such as shine at night | K |
| Among the Orient's flowers and spices | L |
| - | |
| Musical flint mills swiftly played | M |
| By elfin hands that flashing round | N |
| Like certain fire eyed minstrel maids | O |
| Gave out at once both light and sound | N |
| - | |
| Bologna stones that drink the sun | P |
| And water from that Indian sea | Q |
| Whose waves at night like wildfire run | P |
| Corked up in crystal carefully | Q |
| - | |
| Glow worms that round the tiny dishes | L |
| Like little light houses were set up | R |
| And pretty phosphorescent fishes | L |
| That by their own gay light were eat up | R |
| - | |
| 'Mong the few guests from Ether came | S |
| That wicked Sylph whom Love we call | H |
| My Lady knew him but by name | S |
| My Lord her husband not at all | H |
| - | |
| Some prudent Gnomes 'tis said apprised | T |
| That he was coming and no doubt | U |
| Alarmed about his torch advised | T |
| He should by all means be kept out | U |
| - | |
| But others disapproved this plan | V |
| And by his flame tho' somewhat frighted | U |
| Thought Love too much a gentleman | P |
| In such a dangerous place to light it | U |
| - | |
| However there he was and dancing | W |
| With the fair Sylph light as a feather | F |
| They looked like two fresh sunbeams glancing | W |
| At daybreak down to earth together | F |
| - | |
| And all had gone off safe and well | X |
| But for that plaguy torch whose light | U |
| Though not yet kindled who could tell | X |
| How soon how devilishly it might | U |
| - | |
| And so it chanced which in those dark | Y |
| And fireless halls was quite amazing | W |
| Did we not know how small a spark | Y |
| Can set the torch of Love a blazing | W |
| - | |
| Whether it came when close entangled | U |
| In the gay waltz from her bright eyes | Z |
| Or from the lucciole that spangled | U |
| Her locks of jet is all surmise | Z |
| - | |
| But certain 'tis the ethereal girl | A2 |
| Did drop a spark at some odd turning | W |
| Which by the waltz's windy whirl | A2 |
| Was fanned up into actual burning | W |
| - | |
| Oh for that Lamp's metallic gauze | B2 |
| That curtain of protecting wire | F |
| Which DAVY delicately draws | B2 |
| Around illicit dangerous fire | F |
| - | |
| The wall he sets 'twixt Flame and Air | B |
| Like that which barred young Thisbe's bliss | C2 |
| Thro' whose small holes this dangerous pair | B |
| May see each other but not kiss | C2 |
| - | |
| At first the torch looked rather bluely | A2 |
| A sign they say that no good boded | U |
| Then quick the gas became unruly | A2 |
| And crack the ball room all exploded | U |
| - | |
| Sylphs gnomes and fiddlers mixt together | F |
| With all their aunts sons cousins nieces | D2 |
| Like butterflies in stormy weather | F |
| Were blown legs wings and tails to pieces | L |
| - | |
| While mid these victims of the torch | E2 |
| The Sylph alas too bore her part | U |
| Found lying with a livid scorch | E2 |
| As if from lightning o'er her heart | U |
| - | |
| - | |
| - | |
| Well done a laughing Goblin said | U |
| Escaping from this gaseous strife | F2 |
| 'Tis not the first time Love has made | U |
| A blow up in connubial life | F2 |
Thomas Moore
(1)
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About The Sylph's Ball
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