Analysis of The Beautiful Lady Of The May

John Dryden 1631 (Aldwincle) – 1631 (London)



I.
A quire of bright beauties in spring did appear,
To choose a May-lady to govern the year;
All the nymphs were in white, and the shepherds in green,
The garland was given, and Phillis was queen;
But Phillis refused it, and sighing did say,
I'll not wear a garland while Pan is away.

II.
While Pan and fair Syrinx are fled from our shore,
The Graces are banished, and Love is no more:
The soft god of pleasure that warmed our desires
Has broken his bow, and extinguished his fires,
And vows that himself and his mother will mourn,
Till Pan and fair Syrinx in triumph return.

III.
Forbear your addresses, and court us no more,
For we will perform what the Deity swore:
But, if you dare think of deserving our charms,
Away with your sheephooks, and take to your arms;
Then laurels and myrtles your brows shall adorn,
When Pan and his son and fair Syrinx return.


Scheme ABBCCDD AEEFFGH AEEIIGH
Poetic Form
Metre 1 01111001101 11011011001 101001001001 01011001011 11001101011 11101011101 1 11011111101 01011001111 0111101110010 110110010110 01101011011 1101101001 1 1111001111 11101101001 111111010101 0111101111 11001011101 1101101101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 850
Words 162
Sentences 7
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 7, 7, 7
Lines Amount 21
Letters per line (avg) 32
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 224
Words per stanza (avg) 53
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

48 sec read
34

John Dryden

John Dryden was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made Poet Laureate in 1668. more…

All John Dryden poems | John Dryden Books

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