Elegy Iii. Anno Aetates 17.[1] On The Death Of The Bishop Of Winchester.[2] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ KKLLMMNNOOPQRSNNNNNN TTMMNNLLUVNNLLDDWNNL LNNEELLMMXX| Silent I sat dejected and alone | A |
| Making in thought the public woes my own | A |
| When first arose the image in my breast | B |
| Of England's sufferings by that scourge the pest | B |
| How death his fun'ral torch and scythe in hand | C |
| Ent'ring the lordliest mansions of the land | C |
| Has laid the gem illumin'd palace low | D |
| And level'd tribes of Nobles at a blow | D |
| I next deplor'd the famed fraternal pair | E |
| Too soon to ashes turn'd and empty air | E |
| The Heroes next whom snatch'd into the skies | F |
| All Belgia saw and follow'd with her sighs | F |
| But Thee far most I mourn'd regretted most | G |
| Winton's chief shepherd and her worthiest boast | G |
| Pour'd out in tears I thus complaining said | H |
| Death next in pow'r to Him who rules the Dead | H |
| Is't not enough that all the woodlands yield | I |
| To thy fell force and ev'ry verdant field | I |
| That lilies at one noisome blast of thine | J |
| And ev'n the Cyprian Queen's own roses pine | J |
| That oaks themselves although the running rill | K |
| Suckle their roots must wither at thy will | K |
| That all the winged nations even those | L |
| Whose heav'n directed flight the Future shows | L |
| And all the beasts that in dark forests stray | M |
| And all the herds of Proteus are thy prey | M |
| Ah envious arm'd with pow'rs so unconfined | N |
| Why stain thy hands with blood of Human kind | N |
| Why take delight with darts that never roam | O |
| To chase a heav'n born spirit from her home | O |
| While thus I mourn'd the star of evening stood | P |
| Now newly ris'n above the western flood | Q |
| And Phoebus from his morning goal again | R |
| Had reach'd the gulphs of the Iberian main | S |
| I wish'd repose and on my couch reclined | N |
| Took early rest to night and sleep resign'd | N |
| When Oh for words to paint what I beheld | N |
| I seem'd to wander in a spacious field | N |
| Where all the champain glow'd with purple light | N |
| Like that of sun rise on the mountain height | N |
| Flow'rs over all the field of ev'ry hue | T |
| That ever Iris wore luxuriant grew | T |
| Nor Chloris with whom amtrous Zephyrs play | M |
| E'er dress'd Alcinous' gardens half so gay | M |
| A silver current like the Tagus roll'd | N |
| O'er golden sands but sands of purer gold | N |
| With dewy airs Favonius fann'd the flow'rs | L |
| With airs awaken'd under rosy bow'rs | L |
| Such poets feign irradiated all o'er | U |
| The sun's abode on India's utmost shore | V |
| While I that splendour and the mingled shade | N |
| Of fruitful vines with wonder fixt survey'd | N |
| At once with looks that beam'd celestial grace | L |
| The Seer of Winton stood before my face | L |
| His snowy vesture's hem descending low | D |
| His golden sandals swept and pure as snow | D |
| New fallen shone the mitre on his brow | W |
| Where'er he trod a tremulous sweet sound | N |
| Of gladness shook the flow'ry scene around | N |
| Attendant angels clap their starry wings | L |
| The trumpet shakes the sky all aether rings | L |
| Each chaunts his welcome folds him to his breast | N |
| And thus a sweeter voice than all the rest | N |
| Ascend my son thy Father's kingdom share | E |
| My son henceforth be free'd from ev'ry care | E |
| So spake the voice and at its tender close | L |
| With psaltry's sound th'Angelic band arose | L |
| Then night retired and chased by dawning day | M |
| The visionary bliss pass'd all away | M |
| I mourn'd my banish'd sleep with fond concern | X |
| Frequent to me may dreams like this return | X |
William Cowper
(1)
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