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[Imitated] From Propertius. Lib: 2: Eleg: 1.


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[Imitated] From Propertius. Lib: 2: Eleg: 1.


To Mecaenas.

1 You ask why thus my loves I still rehearse,
2 Whence the soft strain and ever-melting verse:
3 From Cynthia all that in my numbers shines;
4 She is my genius, she inspires the lines;
5 No Phoebus else, no other muse I know;
6 She tunes my easy rhyme and gives the lay to flow.
7 If the loose curls around her forehead play,
8 Or lawless o'er their ivory margin stray;
9 If the thin Coan web her shape reveal,
10 And half disclose those limbs it should conceal;
11 Of those loose curls, that ivory front, I write,
12 Of the dear web whole volumes I indite.
13 Or if to music she the lyre awake,
14 That the soft subject of my song I make,
15 And sing with what a careless grace she flings
16 Her artful hand across the sounding strings.
17 If sinking into sleep she seem to close
18 Her languid lids, I favour her repose
19 With lulling notes, and thousand beauties see
20 That slumber brings to aid my poetry.
21 When less averse and yielding to desires,
22 She half accepts and half rejects my fires;
23 While to retain the envious lawn she tries,
24 And struggles to elude my longing eyes;
25 The fruitful muse from that auspicious night
26 Dates the long Iliad of the amorous fight.
27 In brief, whate'er she do, or say, or look,
28 'Tis ample matter for a lover's book;
29 And many a copious narrative you'll see,
30 Big with important nothing's history.

31 Yet would the tyrant Love permit me raise
32 My feeble voice to sound the victor's praise,
33 To paint the hero's toil, the ranks of war,
34 The laurelled triumph and the sculptured car,
35 No giant-race, no tumult of the skies,
36 No mountain-structures in my verse should rise;
37 Nor tale of Thebes or Ilium there should be,
38 Or how the Persian trod the indignant sea;
39 Not Marius' Cimbrian wreaths would I relate,
40 Nor lofty Carthage struggling with her fate.
41 Here should Augustus great in arms appear,
42 And thou, Maecenas, be my second care;
43 Here Mutina from flames and famine free,
44 And there the ensanguined wave of Sicily,
45 And sceptred Alexandria's captive shore,
46 And sad Philippi red with Roman gore.
47 Then, while the vaulted skies loud Ios rend,
48 In golden chains should loaded monarchs bend,
49 And hoary Nile with pensive aspect seem
50 To mourn the glories of his sevenfold stream,
51 While prows, that late in fierce encounter met,
52 Move through the sacred way and vainly threat.
53 Thee too the muse should consecrate to fame,
54 And with his garlands weave thy ever-faithful name;
55 But nor Callimachus' enervate strain
56 May tell of Jove and Phlegra's blasted plain,
57 Nor I with unaccustomed vigour trace
58 Back to its source divine the Julian race.
59 Sailors to tell of winds and seas delight,
60 The shepherd of his flocks, the soldier of the fight;
61 A milder warfare I in verse display;
62 Each in his proper art should waste the day.
63 Nor thou my gentle calling disapprove:
64 To die is glorious in the bed of love.
65 Happy the youth, and not unknown to fame,
66 Whose heart has never felt a second flame.
67 Oh, might that envied happiness be mine!
68 To Cynthia all my wishes I confine;
69 Or if, alas! it be my fate to try
70 Another love, the quicker let me die.
71 But she, the mistress of my faithful breast,
72 Has oft the charms of constancy confessed,
73 Condemns her fickle sex's fond mistake,
74 And hates the tale of Troy for Helen's sake.
75 Me from myself the soft enchantress stole:
76 Ah! let her ever my desires control.
77 Or if I fall the victim of her scorn,
78 From her loved door may my pale corse be borne.
79 The power of herbs can other harms remove,
80 And find a cure for every ill but love.
81 The Melian's hurt Machaon could repair,
82 Heal the slow chief and send again to war;
83 To Chiron Phoenix owed his long-lost sight,
84 And Phoebus' son recalled Androgeon to the light.
85 Here arts are vain, even magic here must fail,
86 The powerful mixture and the midnight spell.
87 The hand that can my captive heart release
88 And to this bosom give its wonted peace,
89 May the long thirst of Tantalus allay,
90 Or drive the infernal vulture from his prey.
91 For ills unseen what remedy is found,
92 Or who can probe the undiscovered wound?
93 The bed avails not or the leech's care,
94 Nor changing skies can hurt nor sultry air.
95 'Tis hard the elusive symptoms to explore:
96 Today the lover walks, tomorrow is no more;
97 A train of mourning friends attend his pall,
98 And wonder at the sudden funeral.

99 When then my fates that breath they gave shall claim,
100 When the short marble but preserves a name,
101 A little verse, my all that shall remain,
102 Thy passing courser's slackened speed retain
103 (Thou envied honour of thy poet's days,
104 Of all our youth the ambition and the praise!);
105 Then to my quiet urn awhile draw near,
106 And say, while o'er the place you drop a tear,
107 Love and the fair were of his life the pride;
108 He lived while she was kind, and, when she frowned, he died.

Expanding the poem lines (+) shows the results of a computationally facilitated analysis of the text. These results should be considered as a basis for deeper interpretative enquiry such as can be found in the notes and queries.

0 [Imitated] From Propertius. Lib: 2: Eleg: 1.

Metrical notation:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/
Metrical foot type:  iambic (-+)
Metrical foot number:  pentameter (5 feet)
Rhyme scheme:  aa
Rhyme (stanza position):  pair (aabb)
Syllable pattern:  10
Stanza:  couplet (2 lines)
Genre(s):  heroic couplet

Notation symbols: | (foot boundary), || (caesura), / (metrical line boundary), + (metrically prominent), - (metrically non-prominent)


To Mecaenas.

1 You ask why thus my loves I still rehearse,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  rehearse   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɜːs/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): why/my/I /aɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): thus/loves /ʌ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): still/rehearse /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): ask/thus/still/rehearse /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): loves/still /l/

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2 Whence the soft strain and ever-melting verse:    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  verse   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɜːs/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): soft/strain /s/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Whence/ever-melting /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Whence/strain /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): soft/strain/verse /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): ever-melting/verse /v/

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3 From Cynthia all that in my numbers shines;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  shines   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪnz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Cynthia/in /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/shines /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): From/my/numbers /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Cynthia/in/numbers/shines /n/

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4 She is my genius, she inspires the lines;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  lines   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪnz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): She/she /ʃ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): She/genius/she /iː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): is/inspires /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/inspires/lines /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): She/she /ʃ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): is/inspires /z/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): genius/inspires/lines /n/
Figure:  diacope (morphological): She/she

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5 No Phoebus else, no other muse I know;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  know   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): No/no/know /n/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): No/Phoebus/no/know /əʊ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): No/no/know /n/
Figure:  diacope (morphological): No/no

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6 She tunes my easy rhyme and gives the lay to flow.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  flow   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): She/easy /iː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): tunes/to /uː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/rhyme /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): my/rhyme /m/

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7 If the loose curls around her forehead play,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  play   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): curls/her /ɜː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): If/forehead /f/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): loose/curls /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): around/forehead /r/

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8 Or lawless o'er their ivory margin stray;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  stray   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Or/lawless /ɔː/
Figure:  syncope (morphological): o'er

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9 If the thin Coan web her shape reveal,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  reveal   |   Rhyme sound:  /iːl/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): If/thin/reveal /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): thin/Coan /n/

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10 And half disclose those limbs it should conceal;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  conceal   |   Rhyme sound:  /iːl/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): disclose/limbs/it /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): disclose/those /əʊ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): disclose/conceal /k/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): disclose/should /d/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): disclose/those /z/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): disclose/conceal /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): limbs/conceal /l/

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11 Of those loose curls, that ivory front, I write,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  write   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): those/that /ð/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): ivory/I/write /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Of/ivory /v/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): those/that /ð/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): loose/curls /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): that/write /t/
Figure:  anaphora (morphological): Of

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12 Of the dear web whole volumes I indite.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  indite   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Of/volumes /ɒ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): I/indite /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Of/volumes /v/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): dear/indite /d/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): whole/volumes /l/
Figure:  anaphora (morphological): Of

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13 Or if to music she the lyre awake,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  awake   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪk/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): to/music /uː/

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14 That the soft subject of my song I make,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  make   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪk/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): soft/subject/song /s/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): my/make /m/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): soft/of/song /ɒ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/I /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): soft/subject/song /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): my/make /m/

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15 And sing with what a careless grace she flings    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  flings   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɪŋz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): sing/with/flings /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sing/flings /ŋ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sing/grace /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): with/what /w/

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16 Her artful hand across the sounding strings.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  strings   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɪŋz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Her/hand /h/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): sounding/strings /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Her/hand /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): hand/sounding /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): across/sounding/strings /s/

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17 If sinking into sleep she seem to close    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  close   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊs/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): sinking/sleep/seem /s/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): If/sinking/into /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): sleep/she/seem /iː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sinking/sleep/seem/close /s/

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18 Her languid lids, I favour her repose    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  repose   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Her/her /h/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): languid/lids /l/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Her/her /ɜː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): lids/repose /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Her/her /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): languid/lids /l/
Figure:  diacope (morphological): Her/her

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19 With lulling notes, and thousand beauties see    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  see   |   Rhyme sound:  /iː/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): notes/beauties /t/

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20 That slumber brings to aid my poetry.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  poetry   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): That/poetry /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): slumber/my /m/

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21 When less averse and yielding to desires,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  desires   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪəz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): When/less /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): less/yielding /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): less/averse /s/

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22 She half accepts and half rejects my fires;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  fires   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪəz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): half/half /h/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): She/rejects /iː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): half/half /ɑː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/fires /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): half/half /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): half/half/fires /f/
Figure:  diacope (morphological): half/half

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23 While to retain the envious lawn she tries,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  tries   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): While/tries /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): While/lawn /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): retain/envious/lawn /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): retain/tries /t/

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24 And struggles to elude my longing eyes;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  eyes   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): to/elude /uː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/eyes /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): elude/longing /l/

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25 The fruitful muse from that auspicious night    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  night   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): fruitful/from /f/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): fruitful/muse /uː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): fruitful/from /f/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): fruitful/that/night /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): muse/from /m/

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26 Dates the long Iliad of the amorous fight.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  fight   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): long/of /ɒ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Dates/fight /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): long/Iliad /l/

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27 In brief, whate'er she do, or say, or look,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  look   |   Rhyme sound:  /ʊk/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): brief/she /iː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): or/or /ɔː/
Figure:  syncope (morphological): whate'er

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28 'Tis ample matter for a lover's book;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  book   |   Rhyme sound:  /ʊk/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): ample/matter /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): 'Tis/matter /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): ample/matter /m/
Figure:  aphaeresis (morphological): 'Tis

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29 And many a copious narrative you'll see,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  see   |   Rhyme sound:  /iː/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): And/narrative /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): many/narrative /n/

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30 Big with important nothing's history.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  history   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Big/with/important/history /ɪ/

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31 Yet would the tyrant Love permit me raise    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  raise   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Yet/tyrant/permit /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): tyrant/raise /r/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): permit/me /m/

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32 My feeble voice to sound the victor's praise,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  praise   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): voice/victor's /v/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): voice/victor's /v/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): voice/sound /s/

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33 To paint the hero's toil, the ranks of war,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  war   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔː/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): hero's/ranks /r/

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34 The laurelled triumph and the sculptured car,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  car   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɑː/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): laurelled/sculptured /l/

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35 No giant-race, no tumult of the skies,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  skies   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): No/no /n/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): No/no /əʊ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): giant-race/skies /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): No/giant-race/no /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): giant-race/skies /s/
Figure:  diacope (morphological): No/no
Figure:  anaphora (morphological): No

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36 No mountain-structures in my verse should rise;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  rise   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): mountain-structures/my /m/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/rise /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): No/mountain-structures/in /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): mountain-structures/my /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): mountain-structures/verse /s/
Figure:  anaphora (morphological): No

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37 Nor tale of Thebes or Ilium there should be,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  be   |   Rhyme sound:  /iː/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Nor/or /ɔː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Thebes/be /iː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): tale/Ilium /l/

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38 Or how the Persian trod the indignant sea;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  sea   |   Rhyme sound:  /iː/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): trod/indignant /d/

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39 Not Marius' Cimbrian wreaths would I relate,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  relate   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): wreaths/relate /r/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Cimbrian/relate /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Not/relate /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Marius'/wreaths/relate /r/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Marius'/Cimbrian /m/

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40 Nor lofty Carthage struggling with her fate.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  fate   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): lofty/fate /f/

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41 Here should Augustus great in arms appear,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  appear   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɪə/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Here/appear /ɪə/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Augustus/great /g/

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42 And thou, Maecenas, be my second care;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  care   |   Rhyme sound:  /eə/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Maecenas/my /m/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Maecenas/be /iː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Maecenas/my /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Maecenas/second /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): second/care /k/

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43 Here Mutina from flames and famine free,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  free   |   Rhyme sound:  /iː/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): from/flames/famine/free /f/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Mutina/free /iː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): and/famine /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Mutina/from/flames/famine /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): from/flames/famine/free /f/

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44 And there the ensanguined wave of Sicily,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  Sicily   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): And/ensanguined /æ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): ensanguined/Sicily /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): ensanguined/Sicily /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): wave/of /v/
Figure:  anaphora (morphological): And

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45 And sceptred Alexandria's captive shore,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  shore   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔː/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): And/captive /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sceptred/captive /p/
Figure:  anaphora (morphological): And

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46 And sad Philippi red with Roman gore.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  gore   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔː/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): red/Roman /r/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): And/sad /æ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Philippi/with /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sad/red /d/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): red/Roman /r/

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47 Then, while the vaulted skies loud Ios rend,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  rend   |   Rhyme sound:  /end/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Then/rend /e/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): while/skies/Ios /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Then/rend /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): while/vaulted/loud /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): skies/Ios /z/

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48 In golden chains should loaded monarchs bend,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  bend   |   Rhyme sound:  /end/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): golden/loaded /əʊ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): In/chains/monarchs/bend /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): golden/loaded /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): should/loaded /d/

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49 And hoary Nile with pensive aspect seem    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  seem   |   Rhyme sound:  /iːm/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): And/aspect /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Nile/pensive /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): aspect/seem /s/

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50 To mourn the glories of his sevenfold stream,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  stream   |   Rhyme sound:  /iːm/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): sevenfold/stream /s/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): mourn/glories /ɔː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): mourn/stream /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): of/sevenfold /v/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sevenfold/stream /s/

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51 While prows, that late in fierce encounter met,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  met   |   Rhyme sound:  /et/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): prows/encounter /aʊ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): in/encounter /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): While/late /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): that/late/met /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): in/encounter /n/

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52 Move through the sacred way and vainly threat.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  threat   |   Rhyme sound:  /et/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): through/threat /θ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Move/through /uː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): sacred/way/vainly /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Move/vainly /v/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): through/threat /θ/

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53 Thee too the muse should consecrate to fame,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  fame   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪm/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): too/muse/to /uː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): consecrate/fame /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): too/consecrate /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): muse/fame /m/

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54 And with his garlands weave thy ever-faithful name;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  name   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪm/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): with/his /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): ever-faithful/name /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): with/weave /w/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): with/thy /ð/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): weave/ever-faithful /v/

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55 But nor Callimachus' enervate strain    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  strain   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪn/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): enervate/strain /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): But/enervate /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): nor/enervate/strain /n/

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56 May tell of Jove and Phlegra's blasted plain,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  plain   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪn/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): May/plain /eɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): tell/Phlegra's /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): of/Jove /v/

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57 Nor I with unaccustomed vigour trace    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  trace   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪs/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): with/vigour /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Nor/unaccustomed /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): unaccustomed/trace /s/

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58 Back to its source divine the Julian race.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  race   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪs/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): to/Julian /uː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): its/divine /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): source/race /s/

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59 Sailors to tell of winds and seas delight,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  delight   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Sailors/seas /s/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): winds/delight /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Sailors/tell/delight /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Sailors/seas /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): tell/delight /t/

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60 The shepherd of his flocks, the soldier of the fight;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  fight   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): flocks/fight /f/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): of/flocks/of /ɒ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): of/of /v/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): flocks/fight /f/
Figure:  diacope (morphological): of/of

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61 A milder warfare I in verse display;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  display   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): milder/I /aɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): in/display /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): verse/display /s/

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62 Each in his proper art should waste the day.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  day   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): in/his /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): waste/day /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): should/day /d/

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63 Nor thou my gentle calling disapprove:    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  disapprove   |   Rhyme sound:  /uːv/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Nor/calling /ɔː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Nor/gentle /n/

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64 To die is glorious in the bed of love.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  love   |   Rhyme sound:  /ʌv/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): is/in /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): die/bed /d/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): of/love /v/

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65 Happy the youth, and not unknown to fame,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  fame   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪm/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Happy/and /æ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): youth/to /uː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): not/unknown /n/

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66 Whose heart has never felt a second flame.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  flame   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪm/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Whose/heart /h/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): felt/flame /f/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): never/felt/second /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Whose/heart/has /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Whose/has /z/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): felt/flame /f/

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67 Oh, might that envied happiness be mine!    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  mine   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪn/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): might/mine /m/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): might/mine /aɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): that/happiness /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): might/mine /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): might/that /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): envied/mine /n/
Figure:  ecphonesis (pragmatic): Oh...

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68 To Cynthia all my wishes I confine;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  confine   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪn/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Cynthia/wishes /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/I/confine /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Cynthia/confine /n/

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69 Or if, alas! it be my fate to try    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  try   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): if/it /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/try /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): if/fate /f/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): it/fate/try /t/

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70 Another love, the quicker let me die.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  die   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): love/let /l/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Another/love /ʌ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): love/let /l/

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71 But she, the mistress of my faithful breast,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  breast   |   Rhyme sound:  /est/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): But/breast /b/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): mistress/my /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): But/breast /b/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): mistress/my /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): mistress/breast /s/

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72 Has oft the charms of constancy confessed,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  confessed   |   Rhyme sound:  /est/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): constancy/confessed /k/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): oft/of/constancy /ɒ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): oft/confessed /f/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): constancy/confessed /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): constancy/confessed /k/

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73 Condemns her fickle sex's fond mistake,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  mistake   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪk/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): fickle/fond /f/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Condemns/sex's /e/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): fickle/mistake /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Condemns/fond /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Condemns/fickle/sex's/mistake /k/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Condemns/mistake /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): fickle/fond /f/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sex's/mistake /s/

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74 And hates the tale of Troy for Helen's sake.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  sake   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪk/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): hates/Helen's /h/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): tale/Troy /t/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): hates/tale/sake /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): hates/Helen's /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): hates/tale/Troy /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): tale/Helen's /l/

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75 Me from myself the soft enchantress stole:    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  stole   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊl/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Me/myself /m/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): soft/stole /s/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): from/soft /ɒ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Me/from/myself /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): from/soft /f/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): myself/stole /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): myself/soft/stole /s/

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76 Ah! let her ever my desires control.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  control   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊl/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): let/ever /e/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/desires /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): let/control /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): let/control /t/
Figure:  ecphonesis (pragmatic): Ah...

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77 Or if I fall the victim of her scorn,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  scorn   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔːn/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Or/fall/scorn /ɔː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): if/victim /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): if/fall /f/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): victim/of /v/

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78 From her loved door may my pale corse be borne.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  borne   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔːn/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): may/my /m/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): door/corse/borne /ɔː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): may/pale /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): From/may/my /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): loved/pale /l/

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79 The power of herbs can other harms remove,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  remove   |   Rhyme sound:  /uːv/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): herbs/harms /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): of/remove /v/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): herbs/harms /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): harms/remove /m/

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80 And find a cure for every ill but love.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  love   |   Rhyme sound:  /ʌv/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): but/love /ʌ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): find/for /f/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): every/love /v/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): ill/love /l/

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81 The Melian's hurt Machaon could repair,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  repair   |   Rhyme sound:  /eə/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Melian's/Machaon /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Melian's/Machaon /m/

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82 Heal the slow chief and send again to war;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  war   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔː/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): slow/send /s/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Heal/chief /iː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): send/again /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): slow/send /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): send/again /n/

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83 To Chiron Phoenix owed his long-lost sight,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  sight   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Chiron/his /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Chiron/long-lost /ɒ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Chiron/Phoenix /n/

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84 And Phoebus' son recalled Androgeon to the light.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  light   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Phoebus'/Androgeon /əʊ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): son/Androgeon /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): recalled/light /l/

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85 Here arts are vain, even magic here must fail,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  fail   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪl/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Here/here /h/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): magic/must /m/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Here/here /ɪə/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): arts/are /ɑː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): vain/fail /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Here/here /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): vain/even /v/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): magic/must /m/
Figure:  diacope (morphological): Here/here

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86 The powerful mixture and the midnight spell.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  spell   |   Rhyme sound:  /el/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): mixture/midnight /m/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): mixture/midnight /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): mixture/midnight /m/

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87 The hand that can my captive heart release    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  release   |   Rhyme sound:  /iːs/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): hand/heart /h/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): can/captive /k/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): hand/that/can/captive /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): hand/can /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): hand/heart /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): that/heart /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): can/captive /k/

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88 And to this bosom give its wonted peace,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  peace   |   Rhyme sound:  /iːs/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): this/give/its /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): this/peace /s/

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89 May the long thirst of Tantalus allay,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  allay   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): May/allay /eɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): long/of /ɒ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): long/allay /l/

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90 Or drive the infernal vulture from his prey.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  prey   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): infernal/his /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): drive/vulture /v/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): infernal/from /f/

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91 For ills unseen what remedy is found,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  found   |   Rhyme sound:  /aʊnd/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): ills/is /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): For/found /f/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): unseen/found /n/

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92 Or who can probe the undiscovered wound?    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  wound   |   Rhyme sound:  /uːnd/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): who/wound /uː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): can/undiscovered/wound /n/

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93 The bed avails not or the leech's care,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  care   |   Rhyme sound:  /eə/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): avails/leech's /l/

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94 Nor changing skies can hurt nor sultry air.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  air   |   Rhyme sound:  /eə/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Nor/nor /n/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): skies/sultry /s/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Nor/nor /ɔː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Nor/changing/can/nor /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): skies/sultry /s/
Figure:  diacope (morphological): Nor/nor

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95 'Tis hard the elusive symptoms to explore:    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  explore   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔː/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): 'Tis/elusive/symptoms/explore /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): elusive/to /uː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): elusive/symptoms/explore /s/
Figure:  aphaeresis (morphological): 'Tis

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96 Today the lover walks, tomorrow is no more;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  more   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔː/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Today/tomorrow /t/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Today/tomorrow /ə/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): walks/more /ɔː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Today/tomorrow /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): tomorrow/more /m/

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97 A train of mourning friends attend his pall,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  pall   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔːl/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): mourning/pall /ɔː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): friends/attend /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): train/mourning/friends/attend /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): train/attend /t/

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98 And wonder at the sudden funeral.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  funeral   |   Rhyme sound:  /əl/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): And/at /æ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): wonder/sudden /ʌ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): wonder/funeral /n/

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99 When then my fates that breath they gave shall claim,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  claim   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪm/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): then/that/they /ð/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): When/then/breath /e/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): fates/they/gave/claim /eɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): that/shall /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): When/then /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): then/that/they /ð/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): my/claim /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): fates/that /t/
Figure:  anaphora (morphological): When

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100 When the short marble but preserves a name,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  name   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪm/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): When/name /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): short/but /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): marble/but /b/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): marble/name /m/
Figure:  anaphora (morphological): When

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101 A little verse, my all that shall remain,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  remain   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪn/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): little/remain /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): that/shall /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): little/all/shall /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): little/that /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): my/remain /m/

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102 Thy passing courser's slackened speed retain    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  retain   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪn/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): slackened/speed /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): passing/courser's/slackened/speed /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): courser's/slackened /k/

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103 (Thou envied honour of thy poet's days,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  days   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Thou/thy /ð/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): honour/of /ɒ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Thou/thy /ð/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): envied/honour /n/

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104 Of all our youth the ambition and the praise!);    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  praise   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): ambition/and /æ/

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105 Then to my quiet urn awhile draw near,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  near   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɪə/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/quiet/awhile /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Then/urn/near /n/

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106 And say, while o'er the place you drop a tear,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  tear   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɪə/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): say/place /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): say/place /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): place/drop /p/
Figure:  syncope (morphological): o'er

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107 Love and the fair were of his life the pride;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  pride   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪd/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Love/life /l/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): life/pride /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Love/life /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Love/of /v/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): fair/life /f/

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108 He lived while she was kind, and, when she frowned, he died.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  died   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪd/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): He/he /h/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): while/when /w/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): she/she /ʃ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): He/she/she/he /iː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): while/kind/died /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): He/he /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): lived/while /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): while/was/when /w/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): she/she /ʃ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): kind/when/frowned /n/
Figure:  diacope (morphological): He/he
Figure:  diacope (morphological): she/she

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Expanding the poem lines (+) shows notes and queries taken from various critical editions of Gray's works, as well as those contributed by users of the Archive. There are 0 textual and 1 explanatory notes/queries.

All notes and queries are shown by default.

0 [Imitated] From Propertius. Lib: 2: Eleg: 1. 1 Explanatory

Title/Paratext] "Sextus Propertius (c. 50 B.C.-post [...]" H.W. Starr/J.R. Hendrickson, 1966.

"Sextus Propertius (c. 50 B.C.-post 15 B.C.), a friend of Virgil and Ovid, wrote amatory elegies to his mistress Hostia, who appears in his poems as Cynthia. His friend Gaius Cilnius Maecenas (b. 74-64 B.C., d. 8 B.C.) was a Roman statesman and a famous patron of letters. The correct number of the elegy is 1. Gray sent the translation to West in a letter dated 23 Apr. 1742. He evidently had started the poem just after West had, unintentionally, discouraged him from proceeding with Agrippina."

The Complete Poems of Thomas Gray: English, Latin and Greek. Edited by Herbert W. Starr and J. R. Hendrickson. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1966, 232.

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To Mecaenas.

1 You ask why thus my loves I still rehearse,
2 Whence the soft strain and ever-melting verse:
3 From Cynthia all that in my numbers shines;
4 She is my genius, she inspires the lines;
5 No Phoebus else, no other muse I know;
6 She tunes my easy rhyme and gives the lay to flow.
7 If the loose curls around her forehead play,
8 Or lawless o'er their ivory margin stray;
9 If the thin Coan web her shape reveal,
10 And half disclose those limbs it should conceal;
11 Of those loose curls, that ivory front, I write,
12 Of the dear web whole volumes I indite.
13 Or if to music she the lyre awake,
14 That the soft subject of my song I make,
15 And sing with what a careless grace she flings
16 Her artful hand across the sounding strings.
17 If sinking into sleep she seem to close
18 Her languid lids, I favour her repose
19 With lulling notes, and thousand beauties see
20 That slumber brings to aid my poetry.
21 When less averse and yielding to desires,
22 She half accepts and half rejects my fires;
23 While to retain the envious lawn she tries,
24 And struggles to elude my longing eyes;
25 The fruitful muse from that auspicious night
26 Dates the long Iliad of the amorous fight.
27 In brief, whate'er she do, or say, or look,
28 'Tis ample matter for a lover's book;
29 And many a copious narrative you'll see,
30 Big with important nothing's history.

31 Yet would the tyrant Love permit me raise
32 My feeble voice to sound the victor's praise,
33 To paint the hero's toil, the ranks of war,
34 The laurelled triumph and the sculptured car,
35 No giant-race, no tumult of the skies,
36 No mountain-structures in my verse should rise;
37 Nor tale of Thebes or Ilium there should be,
38 Or how the Persian trod the indignant sea;
39 Not Marius' Cimbrian wreaths would I relate,
40 Nor lofty Carthage struggling with her fate.
41 Here should Augustus great in arms appear,
42 And thou, Maecenas, be my second care;
43 Here Mutina from flames and famine free,
44 And there the ensanguined wave of Sicily,
45 And sceptred Alexandria's captive shore,
46 And sad Philippi red with Roman gore.
47 Then, while the vaulted skies loud Ios rend,
48 In golden chains should loaded monarchs bend,
49 And hoary Nile with pensive aspect seem
50 To mourn the glories of his sevenfold stream,
51 While prows, that late in fierce encounter met,
52 Move through the sacred way and vainly threat.
53 Thee too the muse should consecrate to fame,
54 And with his garlands weave thy ever-faithful name;
55 But nor Callimachus' enervate strain
56 May tell of Jove and Phlegra's blasted plain,
57 Nor I with unaccustomed vigour trace
58 Back to its source divine the Julian race.
59 Sailors to tell of winds and seas delight,
60 The shepherd of his flocks, the soldier of the fight;
61 A milder warfare I in verse display;
62 Each in his proper art should waste the day.
63 Nor thou my gentle calling disapprove:
64 To die is glorious in the bed of love.
65 Happy the youth, and not unknown to fame,
66 Whose heart has never felt a second flame.
67 Oh, might that envied happiness be mine!
68 To Cynthia all my wishes I confine;
69 Or if, alas! it be my fate to try
70 Another love, the quicker let me die.
71 But she, the mistress of my faithful breast,
72 Has oft the charms of constancy confessed,
73 Condemns her fickle sex's fond mistake,
74 And hates the tale of Troy for Helen's sake.
75 Me from myself the soft enchantress stole:
76 Ah! let her ever my desires control.
77 Or if I fall the victim of her scorn,
78 From her loved door may my pale corse be borne.
79 The power of herbs can other harms remove,
80 And find a cure for every ill but love.
81 The Melian's hurt Machaon could repair,
82 Heal the slow chief and send again to war;
83 To Chiron Phoenix owed his long-lost sight,
84 And Phoebus' son recalled Androgeon to the light.
85 Here arts are vain, even magic here must fail,
86 The powerful mixture and the midnight spell.
87 The hand that can my captive heart release
88 And to this bosom give its wonted peace,
89 May the long thirst of Tantalus allay,
90 Or drive the infernal vulture from his prey.
91 For ills unseen what remedy is found,
92 Or who can probe the undiscovered wound?
93 The bed avails not or the leech's care,
94 Nor changing skies can hurt nor sultry air.
95 'Tis hard the elusive symptoms to explore:
96 Today the lover walks, tomorrow is no more;
97 A train of mourning friends attend his pall,
98 And wonder at the sudden funeral.

99 When then my fates that breath they gave shall claim,
100 When the short marble but preserves a name,
101 A little verse, my all that shall remain,
102 Thy passing courser's slackened speed retain
103 (Thou envied honour of thy poet's days,
104 Of all our youth the ambition and the praise!);
105 Then to my quiet urn awhile draw near,
106 And say, while o'er the place you drop a tear,
107 Love and the fair were of his life the pride;
108 He lived while she was kind, and, when she frowned, he died.

Works cited

  • The Complete Poems of Thomas Gray: English, Latin and Greek. Edited by Herbert W. Starr and J. R. Hendrickson. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1966.

Spelling has been modernized throughout, except in case of conscious archaisms. Contractions, italics and initial capitalization have been largely eliminated, except where of real import. Obvious errors have been silently corrected, punctuation has been supplied. The editor would like to express his gratitude to the library staff of the Göttingen State and University Library (SUB Göttingen) for their invaluable assistance.

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Editions in the Digital Library

  • 1814: The Works of Thomas Gray, Vol. II. Ed. Thomas James Mathias. London, 1814.
  • 1836: The Works of Thomas Gray, Volume I. Ed. John Mitford. London, 1836.