The Death Of Damon. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BC DDEFGGHHIJEKFFLLMMNN OOCCPPQQCCRRSSCCTTUV WWXYZZCCCCQQCCCCCCWW CCCCCCFFQQCCA2A2B2B2 C2D2CCE2E2F2F2CCG2G2 H2H2MI2CCYYCCJ2J2K2K 2CCL2L2MMXXCCF2FQQKK CCF2FC2C2CCM2M2QQF2F CCL2L2N2N2IIN2N2CCWW N2N2N2N2CCN2N2F2FN2N 2QQCCN2N2N2N2CCCCFFN 2N2I2I2O2E2CCN2N2UUN 2N2CCCCN2N2FFE2E2CCN 2N2CCCCL2L2CCA2A2CCE 2E2N2N2QQCCC2C2L2L2F FN2N2P2Q2CCCCCQQCCR2 R2UUS2S2N2N2MMQQN2N2 FFCCCCE2E2CCN2N2CCXX N2N2N2N2T2T2MMKFSSL2 L2CCN2N2U2U2QQCCE2E2 CCN2N2CCN2N2V2V2

The Argument	A
	-
Thyrsis and Damon shepherds and neighbours had always pursued the same studies and had from their earliest days been united in the closest friendship Thyrsis while traveling for improve ment received intelligence of the death of Damon and after a time returning and finding it true deplores himself and his solitary condition in this poem	B
By Damon is to be understood Charles Diodati connected with the Italian city of Lucca by his Father's side in other respects an Englishman a youth of uncommon genius erudition and virtue	C
	-
Ye Nymphs of Himera for ye have shed	D
Erewhile for Daphnis and for Hylas dead	D
And over Bion's long lamented bier	E
The fruitless meed of many a sacred tear	F
Now through the villas laved by Thames rehearse	G
The woes of Thyrsis in Sicilian verse	G
What sighs he heav'd and how with groans profound	H
He made the woods and hollow rocks resound	H
Young Damon dead nor even ceased to pour	I
His lonely sorrows at the midnight hour	J
The green wheat twice had nodded in the ear	E
And golden harvest twice enrich'd the year	K
Since Damon's lips had gasp'd for vital air	F
The last last time nor Thyrsis yet was there	F
For he enamour'd of the Muse remain'd	L
In Tuscan Fiorenza long detain'd	L
But stored at length with all he wish'd to learn	M
For his flock's sake now hasted to return	M
And when the shepherd had resumed his seat	N
At the elm's root within his old retreat	N
Then 'twas his lot then all his loss to know	O
And from his burthen'd heart he vented thus his woe	O
Go seek your home my lambs my thoughts are due	C
To other cares than those of feeding you	C
Alas what Deities shall I suppose	P
In heav'n or earth concern'd for human woes	P
Since Oh my Damon their severe decree	Q
So soon condemns me to regret of Thee	Q
Depart'st thou thus thy virtues unrepaid	C
With fame and honour like a vulgar shade	C
Let him forbid it whose bright rod controls	R
And sep'rates sordid from illustrious souls	R
Drive far the rabble and to Thee assign	S
A happier lot with spirits worthy thine	S
Go seek your home my lambs my thoughts are due	C
To other cares than those of feeding you	C
Whate'er befall unless by cruel chance	T
The wolf first give me a forbidding glance	T
Thou shalt not moulder undeplor'd but long	U
Thy praise shall dwell on ev'ry shepherd's tongue	V
To Daphnis first they shall delight to pay	W
And after Him to thee the votive lay	W
While Pales shall the flocks and pastures love	X
Or Faunus to frequent the field or grove	Y
At least if antient piety and truth	Z
With all the learned labours of thy youth	Z
May serve thee aught or to have left behind	C
A sorrowing friend and of the tuneful kind	C
Go seek your home my lambs my thoughts are due	C
To other cares than those of feeding you	C
Yes Damon such thy sure reward shall be	Q
But ah what doom awaits unhappy me	Q
Who now my pains and perils shall divide	C
As thou wast wont for ever at my side	C
Both when the rugged frost annoy'd our feet	C
And when the herbage all was parch'd with heat	C
Whether the grim wolf's ravage to prevent	C
Or the huge lion's arm'd with darts we went	C
Whose converse now shall calm my stormy day	W
With charming song who now beguile my way	W
Go seek your home my lambs my thoughts are due	C
To other cares than those of feeding you	C
In whom shall I confide Whose counsel find	C
A balmy med'cine for my troubled mind	C
Or whose discourse with innocent delight	C
Shall fill me now and cheat the wint'ry night	C
While hisses on my hearth the pulpy pear	F
And black'ning chesnuts start and crackle there	F
While storms abroad the dreary meadows whelm	Q
And the wind thunders thro' the neighb'ring elm	Q
Go seek your home my lambs my thoughts are due	C
To other cares than those of feeding you	C
Or who when summer suns their summit reach	A2
And Pan sleeps hidden by the shelt'ring beech	A2
When shepherds disappear Nymphs seek the sedge	B2
And the stretch'd rustic snores beneath the hedge	B2
Who then shall render me thy pleasant vein	C2
Of Attic wit thy jests thy smiles again	D2
Go seek your home my lambs my thoughts are due	C
To other cares than those of feeding you	C
Where glens and vales are thickest overgrown	E2
With tangled boughs I wander now alone	E2
Till night descend while blust'ring wind and show'r	F2
Beat on my temples through the shatter'd bow'r	F2
Go seek your home my lambs my thoughts are due	C
To other cares than those of feeding you	C
Alas what rampant weeds now shame my fields	G2
And what a mildew'd crop the furrow yields	G2
My rambling vines unwedded to the trees	H2
Bear shrivel'd grapes my myrtles fail to please	H2
Nor please me more my flocks they slighted turn	M
Their unavailing looks on me and mourn	I2
Go seek your home my lambs my thoughts are due	C
To other cares than those of feeding you	C
Aegon invites me to the hazel grove	Y
Amyntas on the river's bank to rove	Y
And young Alphesiboeus to a seat	C
Where branching elms exclude the midday heat	C
Here fountains spring here mossy hillocks rise	J2
Here Zephyr whispers and the stream replies	J2
Thus each persuades but deaf to ev'ry call	K2
I gain the thickets and escape them all	K2
Go seek your home my lambs my thoughts are due	C
To other cares than those of feeding you	C
Then Mopsus said the same who reads so well	L2
The voice of birds and what the stars foretell	L2
For He by chance had noticed my return	M
What means thy sullen mood this deep concern	M
Ah Thyrsis thou art either crazed with love	X
Or some sinister influence from above	X
Dull Saturn's influence oft the shepherd rue	C
His leaden shaft oblique has pierced thee through	C
Go go my lambs unpastur'd as ye are	F2
My thoughts are all now due to other care	F
The Nymphs amazed my melancholy see	Q
And Thyrsis cry what will become of thee	Q
What would'st thou Thyrsis such should not appear	K
The brow of youth stern gloomy and severe	K
Brisk youth should laugh and love ah shun the fate	C
Of those twice wretched mopes who love too late	C
Go go my lambs unpastur'd as ye are	F2
My thoughts are all now due to other care	F
Aegle with Hyas came to sooth my pain	C2
And Baucis' daughter Dryope the vain	C2
Fair Dryope for voice and finger neat	C
Known far and near and for her self conceit	C
Came Chloris too whose cottage on the lands	M2
That skirt the Idumanian current stands	M2
But all in vain they came and but to see	Q
Kind words and comfortable lost on me	Q
Go go my lambs unpastur'd as ye are	F2
My thoughts are all now due to other care	F
Ah blest indiff'rence of the playful herd	C
None by his fellow chosen or preferr'd	C
No bonds of amity the flocks enthrall	L2
But each associates and is pleased with all	L2
So graze the dappled deer in num'rous droves	N2
And all his kind alike the zebra loves'	N2
The same law governs where the billows roar	I
And Proteus' shoals o'erspread the desert shore	I
The sparrow meanest of the feather'd race	N2
His fit companion finds in ev'ry place	N2
With whom he picks the grain that suits him best	C
Flits here and there and late returns to rest	C
And whom if chance the falcon make his prey	W
Or Hedger with his well aim'd arrow slay	W
For no such loss the gay survivor grieves'	N2
New love he seeks and new delight receives	N2
We only an obdurate kind rejoice	N2
Scorning all others in a single choice	N2
We scarce in thousands meet one kindred mind	C
And if the long sought good at last we find	C
When least we fear it Death our treasure steals	N2
And gives our heart a wound that nothing heals	N2
Go go my lambs unpastur'd as ye are	F2
My thoughts are all now due to other care	F
Ah what delusion lured me from my flocks	N2
To traverse Alpine snows and rugged rocks	N2
What need so great had I to visit Rome	Q
Now sunk in ruins and herself a tomb	Q
Or had she flourish'd still as when of old	C
For her sake Tityrus forsook his fold	C
What need so great had I t'incur a pause	N2
Of thy sweet intercourse for such a cause	N2
For such a cause to place the roaring sea	N2
Rocks mountains woods between my friend and me	N2
Else I had grasp'd thy feeble hand composed	C
Thy decent limbs thy drooping eye lids closed	C
And at the last had said Farewell Ascend	C
Nor even in the skies forget thy friend	C
Go go my lambs untended homeward fare	F
My thoughts are all now due to other care	F
Although well pleas'd ye tuneful Tuscan swains	N2
My mind the mem'ry of your worth retains	N2
Yet not your worth can teach me less to mourn	I2
My Damon lost He too was Tuscan born	I2
Born in your Lucca city of renown	O2
And Wit possess'd and Genius like your own	E2
Oh how elate was I when stretch'd beside	C
The murm'ring course of Arno's breezy tide	C
Beneath the poplar grove I pass'd my hours	N2
Now cropping myrtles and now vernal flow'rs	N2
And hearing as I lay at ease along	U
Your swains contending for the prize of song	U
I also dared attempt and as it seems	N2
Not much displeas'd attempting various themes	N2
For even I can presents boast from you	C
The shepherd's pipe and osier basket too	C
And Dati and Francini both have made	C
My name familiar to the beechen shade	C
And they are learn'd and each in ev'ry place	N2
Renown'd for song and both of Lydian Race	N2
Go go my lambs untended homeward fare	F
My thoughts are all now due to other care	F
While bright the dewy grass with moon beams shone	E2
And I stood hurdling in my kids alone	E2
How often have I said but thou had'st found	C
Ere then thy dark cold lodgment under ground	C
Now Damon sings or springes sets for hares	N2
Or wicker work for various use prepares	N2
How oft indulging Fancy have I plann'd	C
New scenes of pleasure that I hop'd at hand	C
Call'd thee abroad as I was wont and cried	C
What hoa my friend come lay thy task aside	C
Haste let us forth together and beguile	L2
The heat beneath yon whisp'ring shades awhile	L2
Or on the margin stray of Colne's clear flood	C
Or where Cassivelan's grey turrets stood	C
There thou shalt cull me simples and shalt teach	A2
Thy friend the name and healing pow'rs of each	A2
From the tall blue bell to the dwarfish weed	C
What the dry land and what the marshes breed	C
For all their kinds alike to thee are known	E2
And the whole art of Galen is thy own	E2
Ah perish Galen's art and wither'd be	N2
The useless herbs that gave not health to thee	N2
Twelve evenings since as in poetic dream	Q
I meditating sat some statelier theme	Q
The reeds no sooner touch'd my lip though new	C
And unassay'd before than wide they flew	C
Bursting their waxen bands nor could sustain	C2
The deep ton'd music of the solemn strain	C2
And I am vain perhaps but will tell	L2
How proud a theme I choose ye groves farewell	L2
Go go my lambs untended homeward fare	F
My thoughts are all now due to other care	F
Of Brutus Dardan Chief my song shall be	N2
How with his barks he plough'd the British sea	N2
First from Rutupia's tow'ring headland seen	P2
And of his consort's reign fair Imogen	Q2
Of Brennus and Belinus brothers bold	C
And of Arviragus and how of old	C
Our hardy sires th'Armorican controll'd	C
And the wife of Gorlois who surprised	C
By Uther in her husband's form disguised	C
Such was the force of Merlin's art became	Q
Pregnant with Arthur of heroic fame	Q
These themes I now revolve and Oh if Fate	C
Proportion to these themes my lengthen'd date	C
Adieu my shepherd's reed yon pine tree bough	R2
Shall be thy future home there dangle Thou	R2
Forgotten and disus'd unless ere long	U
Thou change thy Latin for a British song	U
A British even so the pow'rs of Man	S2
Are bounded little is the most he can	S2
And it shall well suffice me and shall be	N2
Fame and proud recompense enough for me	N2
If Usa golden hair'd my verse may learn	M
If Alain bending o'er his chrystal urn	M
Swift whirling Abra Trent's o'ershadow'd stream	Q
Thames lovelier far than all in my esteem	Q
Tamar's ore tinctur'd flood and after these	N2
The wave worn shores of utmost Orcades	N2
Go go my lambs untended homeward fare	F
My thoughts are all now due to other care	F
All this I kept in leaves of laurel rind	C
Enfolded safe and for thy view design'd	C
This and a gift from Manso's hand beside	C
Manso not least his native city's pride	C
Two cups that radiant as their giver shone	E2
Adorn'd by sculpture with a double zone	E2
The spring was graven there here slowly wind	C
The Red Sea shores with groves of spices lined	C
Her plumes of various hues amid the boughs	N2
The sacred solitary Phoenix shows	N2
And watchful of the dawn reverts her head	C
To see Aurora leave her wat'ry bed	C
In other part th'expansive vault above	X
And there too even there the God of love	X
With quiver arm'd he mounts his torch displays	N2
A vivid light his gem tip'd arrows blaze	N2
Around his bright and fiery eyes he rolls	N2
Nor aims at vulgar minds or little souls	N2
Nor deigns one look below but aiming high	T2
Sends every arrow to the lofty sky	T2
Hence forms divine and minds immortal learn	M
The pow'r of Cupid and enamour'd burn	M
Thou also Damon neither need I fear	K
That hope delusive thou art also there	F
For whither should simplicity like thine	S
Retire where else such spotless virtue shine	S
Thou dwell'st not thought profane in shades below	L2
Nor tears suit thee cease then my tears to flow	L2
Away with grief on Damon ill bestow'd	C
Who pure himself has found a pure abode	C
Has pass'd the show'ry arch henceforth resides	N2
With saints and heroes and from flowing tides	N2
Quaffs copious immortality and joy	U2
With hallow'd lips Oh blest without alloy	U2
And now enrich'd with all that faith can claim	Q
Look down entreated by whatever name	Q
If Damon please thee most that rural sound	C
Shall oft with ecchoes fill the groves around	C
Or if Diodatus by which alone	E2
In those ethereal mansions thou art known	E2
Thy blush was maiden and thy youth the taste	C
Of wedded bliss knew never pure and chaste	C
The honours therefore by divine decree	N2
The lot of virgin worth are giv'n to thee	N2
Thy brows encircled with a radiant band	C
And the green palm branch waving in thy hand	C
Thou immortal Nuptials shalt rejoice	N2
And join with seraphs thy according voice	N2
Where rapture reigns and the ecstatic lyre	V2
Guides the blest orgies of the blazing quire	V2

William Cowper

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