On The Death Of Mrs. (afterwards Lady) Throckmorton's Bullfinch. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABCCB DDEFFE GGHIIH JJKLLK MMNOON PPOQQO RRSTTS FFHCUH VVWXLW YYZLLZ A2A2LKKL

Ye nymphs if e'er your eyes were redA
With tears o'er hapless favourites shedA
O share Maria's griefB
Her favourite even in his cageC
What will not hunger's cruel rageC
Assassin'd by a thiefB
-
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Where Rhenus strays his vines amongD
The egg was laid from which he sprungD
And though by nature muteE
Or only with a whistle blestF
Well taught he all the sounds express'dF
Of flageolet or fluteE
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The honours of his ebon pollG
Were brighter than the sleekest moleG
His bosom of the hueH
With which Aurora decks the skiesI
When piping winds shall soon ariseI
To sweep away the dewH
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Above below in all the houseJ
Dire foe alike of bird and mouseJ
No cat had leave to dwellK
And Bully's cage supported stoodL
On props of smoothest shaven woodL
Large built and latticed wellK
-
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Well latticed but the grate alasM
Not rough with wire of steel or brassM
For Bully's plumage sakeN
But smooth with wands from Ouse's sideO
With which when neatly peel'd and driedO
The swains their baskets makeN
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Night veil'd the pole all seem'd secureP
When led by instinct sharp and sureP
Subsistence to provideO
A beast forth sallied on the scoutQ
Long back'd long tail'd with whisker'd snoutQ
And badger colour'd hideO
-
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He entering at the study doorR
Its ample area 'gan exploreR
And something in the windS
Conjectured sniffling round and roundT
Better than all the books he foundT
Food chiefly for the mindS
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Just then by adverse fate impress'dF
A dream disturb'd poor Bully's restF
In sleep he seem'd to viewH
A rat fast clinging to the cageC
And screaming at the sad presageU
Awoke and found it trueH
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For aided both by ear and scentV
Right to his mark the monster wentV
Ah muse forbear to speakW
Minute the horrors that ensuedX
His teeth were strong the cage was woodL
He left poor Bully's beakW
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O had he made that too his preyY
That beak whence issued many a layY
Of such mellifluous toneZ
Might have repaid him well I wotL
For silencing so sweet a throatL
Fast stuck within his ownZ
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Maria weeps the Muses mournA2
So when by Bacchanalians tornA2
On Thracian Hebrus' sideL
The tree enchanter Orpheus fellK
His head alone remain'd to tellK
The cruel death he diedL

William Cowper



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