Poet William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth

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The Pillar Of Trajan Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCDEEFFGGDDHHDD IIJK LLDDMMDDDDDD NNOPQQRRSSTTUUDDVVDD DDD WWXXHYY DDYYYZZDD

Where towers are crushed and unforbidden weedsA
O'er mutilated arches shed their seedsA
And temples doomed to milder change unfoldB
A new magnificence that vies with oldB
Firm in its pristine majesty hath stoodC
A votive Column spared by fire and floodD
And though the passions of man's fretful raceE
Have never ceased to eddy round its baseE
Not injured more by touch of meddling handsF
Than a lone obelisk 'mid Nubian sandsF
Or aught in Syrian deserts left to saveG
From death the memory of the good and braveG
Historic figures round the shaft embostD
Ascend with lineaments in air not lostD
Still as he turns the charmed spectator seesH
Group winding after group with dream like easeH
Triumphs in sunbright gratitude displayedD
Or softly stealing into modest shadeD
-
So pleased with purple clusters to entwineI
Some lofty elm tree mounts the daring vineI
The woodbine so with spiral grace and breathesJ
Wide spreading odours from her flowery wreathsK
-
Borne by the Muse from rills in shepherds' earsL
Murmuring but one smooth story for all yearsL
I gladly commune with the mind and heartD
Of him who thus survives by classic artD
His actions witness venerate his mienM
And study Trajan as by Pliny seenM
Behold how fought the Chief whose conquering swordD
Stretched far as earth might own a single lordD
In the delight of moral prudence schooledD
How feelingly at home the Sovereign ruledD
Best of the good in pagan faith alliedD
To more than Man by virtue deifiedD
-
Memorial Pillar 'mid the wrecks of TimeN
Preserve thy charge with confidence sublimeN
The exultations pomps and cares of RomeO
Whence half the breathing world received its doomP
Things that recoil from language that if shownQ
By apter pencil from the light had flownQ
A Pontiff Trajan 'here' the Gods imploresR
'There' greets an Embassy from Indian shoresR
Lo he harangues his cohorts 'there' the stormS
Of battle meets him in authentic formS
Unharnessed naked troops of Moorish horseT
Sweep to the charge more high the Dacian forceT
To hoof and finger mailed yet high or lowU
None bleed and none lie prostrate but the foeU
In every Roman through all turns of fateD
Is Roman dignity inviolateD
Spirit in him pre eminent who guidesV
Supports adorns and over all presidesV
Distinguished only by inherent stateD
From honoured Instruments that round him waitD
Rise as he may his grandeur scorns the testD
Of outward symbol nor will deign to restD
On aught by which another is deprestD
-
Alas that One thus disciplined could toilW
To enslave whole nations on their native soilW
So emulous of Macedonian fameX
That when his age was measured with his aimX
He drooped 'mid else unclouded victoriesH
And turned his eagles back with deep drawn sighsY
O weakness of the Great O folly of the WiseY
-
Where now the haughty Empire that was spreadD
With such fond hope her very speech is deadD
Yet glorious Art the power of Time defiesY
And Trajan still through various enterpriseY
Mounts in this fine illusion toward the skiesY
Still are we present with the imperial ChiefZ
Nor cease to gaze upon the bold ReliefZ
Till Rome to silent marble unconfinedD
Becomes with all her years a vision of the MindD

William Wordsworth



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