The School-mistress. In Imitation Of Spenser (excerpt) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDCDDEDFF GHIHHJHJJ FKFKKLKLL MJMJJNJNN OPOPPJPJJ KJKJJJJJJ JQJQQRQRR STSTTJTJJ UVUVWMWMM JHJHHJHJJAudit aelig voces vagitus et ingens Infantunque anim aelig flentes in limine primo Virg ADVERTISEMENT | A |
What particulars in Spenser were imagined most proper for the author's imitationon this occasion are his language his simplicity his manner of description and a peculiar tenderness of sentiment remarkable throughout his works | B |
Ah me full sorely is my heart forlorn | C |
To think how modest worth neglected lies | D |
While partial fame doth with her blasts adorn | C |
Such deeds alone as pride and pomp disguise | D |
Deeds of ill sort and mischievous emprize | D |
Lend me thy clarion goddess let me try | E |
To sound the praise of merit ere it dies | D |
Such as I oft have chaunced to espy | F |
Lost in the dreary shades of dull obscurity | F |
- | |
In ev'ry village mark'd with little spire | G |
Embow'r'd in trees and hardly known to fame | H |
There dwells in lowly shed and mean attire | I |
A matron old whom we school mistress name | H |
Who boasts unruly brats with birch to tame | H |
They grieven sore in piteous durance pent | J |
Aw'd by the pow'r of this relentless dame | H |
And oft times on vagaries idly bent | J |
For unkempt hair or task unconn'd are sorely shent | J |
- | |
And all in sight doth rise a birchen tree | F |
Which learning near her little dome did stowe | K |
Whilom a twig of small regard to see | F |
Tho' now so wide its waving branches flow | K |
And work the simple vassals mickle woe | K |
For not a wind might curl the leaves that blew | L |
But their limbs shudder'd and their pulse beat low | K |
And as they look'd they found their horror grew | L |
And shap'd it into rods and tingled at the view | L |
- | |
So have I seen who has not may conceive | M |
A lifeless phantom near a garden plac'd | J |
So doth it wanton birds of peace bereave | M |
Of sport of song of pleasure of repast | J |
They start they stare they wheel they look aghast | J |
Sad servitude such comfortless annoy | N |
May no bold Briton's riper age e'er taste | J |
Ne superstition clog his dance of joy | N |
Ne vision empty vain his native bliss destroy | N |
- | |
Near to this dome is found a patch so green | O |
On which the tribe their gambols do display | P |
And at the door impris'ning board is seen | O |
Lest weakly wights of smaller size should stray | P |
Eager perdie to bask in sunny day | P |
The noises intermix'd which thence resound | J |
Do learning's little tenement betray | P |
Where sits the dame disguis'd in look profound | J |
And eyes her fairy throng and turns her wheel around | J |
- | |
Her cap far whiter than the driven snow | K |
Emblem right meet of decency does yield | J |
Her apron dy'd in grain as blue I trowe | K |
As is the hare bell that adorns the field | J |
And in her hand for scepter she does wield | J |
Tway birchen sprays with anxious fear entwin'd | J |
With dark distrust and sad repentance fill'd | J |
And stedfast hate and sharp affliction join'd | J |
And fury uncontroul'd and chastisement unkind | J |
- | |
Few but have kenn'd in semblance meet pourtray'd | J |
The childish faces of old Eol's train | Q |
Libs Notus Auster these in frowns array'd | J |
How then would fare or earth or sky or main | Q |
Were the stern god to give his slaves the rein | Q |
And were not she rebellious breasts to quell | R |
And were not she her statutes to maintain | Q |
The cott no more I ween were deem'd the cell | R |
Where comely peace of mind and decent order dwell | R |
- | |
A russet stole was o'er her shoulders thrown | S |
A russet kirtle fenc'd the nipping air | T |
'Twas simple russet but it was her own | S |
'Twas her own country bred the flock so fair | T |
'Twas her own labour did the fleece prepare | T |
And sooth to say her pupils rang'd around | J |
Thro' pious awe did term it passing rare | T |
For they in gaping wonderment abound | J |
And think no doubt she been the greatest wight on ground | J |
- | |
Albeit ne flatt'ry did corrupt her truth | U |
Ne pompous title did debauch her ear | V |
Goody good woman gossip n'aunt forsooth | U |
Or dame the sole additions she did hear | V |
Yet these she challeng'd these she held right dear | W |
Ne would esteem him act as mought behove | M |
Who should not honour'd eld with these revere | W |
For never title yet so mean could prove | M |
But there was eke a mind which did that title love | M |
- | |
One ancient hen she took delight to feed | J |
The plodding pattern of the busy dame | H |
Which ever and anon impell'd by need | J |
Into her school begirt with chickens came | H |
Such favour did her past deportment claim | H |
And if neglect had lavish'd on the ground | J |
Fragment of bread she would collect the same | H |
For well she knew and quaintly could expound | J |
What sin it were to waste the smallest crumb she found | J |
- |
William Shenstone
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The School-mistress. In Imitation Of Spenser (excerpt) poem by William Shenstone
Best Poems of William Shenstone