The Padlock Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ KKLLMMNNLLOOBBPPQRSS TUMMSSVVWWXXNYZZA2A2 B2B2C2C2D2D2VE2F2YFF G2G2H2H2I2I2J2J2K2K2 L2L2M2ZN2N2| I triumphed love's victorious power | A |
| Prevailed and near approached the hour | A |
| Which should have crowned our mutual flame | B |
| Just then your tyrant husband came | B |
| That hoary Jailer was too hard | C |
| To love he all access has barred | C |
| And all our wishes to defeat | D |
| Secures the key of pleasure's seat | D |
| For such strange matters to account | E |
| Our tale to ancient days should mount | E |
| Ceres must to you sure be known | F |
| Ceres one daughter had alone | F |
| Who much resembled you in face | G |
| Beauteous adorned with every grace | G |
| To the soft passion much inclined | H |
| And guided by a Cupid blind | H |
| Hymen a god as blind as he | I |
| Treated him as he treated thee | I |
| Pluto the rich and old in hell | J |
| Made her his wife and forced to dwell | J |
| But she the jealous miser scorned | K |
| And Pluto though a god was horned | K |
| Pirithous his rival bright | L |
| Young handsome generous and polite | L |
| Found means to get to hell ere dead | M |
| And clapped huge horns upon his head | M |
| This as a fable you'll deride | N |
| But love a man to hell may guide | N |
| In hell as here by some strange spite | L |
| Intrigues are always brought to light | L |
| In a hot hole a spy concealed | O |
| Saw all and all he saw revealed | O |
| And added that the royal dame | B |
| With half the damned had done the same | B |
| The horned god on this report | P |
| Convokes at his infernal court | P |
| Each odious black and cursed soul | Q |
| Sainted below for actions foul | R |
| Each cuckold's soul who during life | S |
| Did all he could to plague his wife | S |
| Then thus declared a Florentine | T |
| 'Most mighty monarch I'd opine | U |
| For death for once a wife is dead | M |
| She can't defile the marriage bed | M |
| But ah sir an immortal wife | S |
| Can never be deprived of life | S |
| A padlock therefore I'd invent | V |
| Which should such accidents prevent | V |
| She must be virtuous of course | W |
| When under the restraint of force | W |
| Not to be come at by her elf | X |
| You're sure to have her to yourself | X |
| Would I had thought before I died | N |
| Such a convenience to provide ' | Y |
| This sage advice a loud applause | Z |
| From all the damned assembly draws | Z |
| And straight by order of the state | A2 |
| Was registered on brass by fate | A2 |
| That moment in the shades below | B2 |
| They anvils beat and bellows blow | B2 |
| Tisiphone the blacksmith's trade | C2 |
| Well understood the locks she made | C2 |
| Proserpina from Pluto's hand | D2 |
| Receiving wore it by command | D2 |
| Sometimes the hardest hearts relent | V |
| Even Pluto's self some pity felt | E2 |
| When spouse's virtue he made fast | F2 |
| And said 'you'll now perforce be chaste ' | Y |
| This lock which hell could frame alone | F |
| Soon to the human race was known | F |
| In Venice Rome and all about it | G2 |
| No gentleman or cit's without it | G2 |
| 'Tis always thought a method sure | H2 |
| All female honor to secure | H2 |
| There husbands though some sneerers mock | I2 |
| Keep virtue safe and under lock | I2 |
| But now to bring the matter home | J2 |
| Your spouse you know lived long at Rome | J2 |
| With bad men few infection 'scape | K2 |
| He has learned the Roman modes to ape | K2 |
| But all his jealous care is vain | L2 |
| Love always knows his ends to gain | L2 |
| That god will sure espouse our cause | M2 |
| He still protects who keeps his laws | Z |
| For you have given me your heart | N2 |
| And can't refuse me any part | N2 |
Voltaire
(1)
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