The Flies. An Eclogue. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDD EECCFFGG FFHHIJKKFFLL KK FFMMNNOO PP FFDDQQDD KKRSFFKKTTDDKKKK DDOOUUVVFF JI| When in the River Cows for Coolness stand | A |
| And Sheep for Breezes seek the lofty Land | A |
| A Youth whom sop taught that ev'ry Tree | B |
| Each Bird and Insect spoke as well as he | B |
| Walk'd calmly musing in a shaded Way | C |
| Where flow'ring Hawthorn broke the sunny Ray | C |
| And thus instructs his Moral Pen to draw | D |
| A Scene that obvious in the Field he saw | D |
| - | |
| Near a low Ditch where shallow Waters meet | E |
| Which never learnt to glide with liquid Feet | E |
| Whose Naiads never prattle as they play | C |
| But screen'd with Hedges slumber out the Day | C |
| There stands a slender Fern's aspiring Shade | F |
| Whose answ'ring Branches regularly layd | F |
| Put forth their answ'ring Boughs and proudly rise | G |
| Three Stories upward in the nether Skies | G |
| - | |
| For Shelter here to shun the Noon day Heat | F |
| An airy Nation of the Flies retreat | F |
| Some in soft Air their silken Pinions ply | H |
| And some from Bough to Bough delighted fly | H |
| Some rise and circling light to perch again | I |
| A pleasing Murmur hums along the Plain | J |
| So when a Stage invites to pageant Shows | K |
| If great and small are like appear the Beaus | K |
| In Boxes some with spruce Pretension sit | F |
| Some change from Seat to Seat within the Pit | F |
| Some roam the Scenes or turning cease to roam | L |
| Preluding Musick fills the lofty Dome | L |
| - | |
| When thus a Fly if what a Fly can say | K |
| Deserves attention rais'd the rural Lay | K |
| - | |
| Where late Amintor made a Nymph a Bride | F |
| Joyful I flew by young Favonia's side | F |
| Who mindless of the Feasting went to sip | M |
| The balmy Pleasure of the Shepherd's Lip | M |
| I saw the Wanton where I stoop'd to sup | N |
| And half resolv'd to drown me in the Cup | N |
| 'Till brush'd by careless Hands she soar'd above | O |
| Cease Beauty cease to vex a tender Love | O |
| - | |
| Thus ends the Youth the buzzing Meadow rung | P |
| And thus the Rival of his Musick sung | P |
| - | |
| When Suns by thousands shone in Orbs of Dew | F |
| I wafted soft with Zephyretta flew | F |
| Saw the clean Pail and sought the milky Chear | D |
| While little Daphne seiz'd my roving Dear | D |
| Wretch that I was I might have warn'd the Dame | Q |
| Yet sat indulging as the Danger came | Q |
| But the kind Huntress left her free to soar | D |
| Ah guard ye Lovers guard a Mistress more | D |
| - | |
| Thus from the Fern whose high projecting Arms | K |
| The fleeting Nation bent with dusky Swarms | K |
| The Swains their Love in easy Musick breathe | R |
| When Tongues and Tumult stun the Field beneath | S |
| Black Ants in Teams come darkning all the Road | F |
| Some call to march and some to lift the Load | F |
| They strain they labour with incessant Pains | K |
| Press'd by the cumbrous weight of single Grains | K |
| The Flies struck silent gaze with Wonder down | T |
| The busy Burghers reach their earthy Town | T |
| Where lay the Burthens of a wint'ry Store | D |
| And thence unwearied part in search of more | D |
| Yet one grave Sage a Moment's space attends | K |
| And the small City's loftiest Point ascends | K |
| Wipes the salt Dew that trickles down his Face | K |
| And thus harangues them with the gravest Grace | K |
| - | |
| Ye foolish Nurslings of the Summer Air | D |
| These gentle Tunes and whining Songs forbear | D |
| Your Trees and whisp'ring Breeze your Grove and Love | O |
| Your Cupids Quiver and his Mother's Dove | O |
| Let Bards to Business bend their vig'rous Wing | U |
| And sing but seldom if they love to sing | U |
| Else when the Flourets of the Season fail | V |
| And this your Ferny Shade forsakes the Vale | V |
| Tho' one would save ye not one Grain of Wheat | F |
| Shou'd pay such Songsters idling at my Gate | F |
| - | |
| He ceas'd The Flies incorrigibly vain | J |
| Heard the May'r's Speech and fell to sing again | I |
Thomas Parnell
(1)
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