Analysis of A Mathematical Problem
Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1772 (Ottery St Mary) – 1834 (Highgate)
This is now--this was erst,
Proposition the first--and Problem the first.
I.
On a given finite Line
Which must no way incline;
To describe an equi--
--lateral Tri--
--A, N, G, L, E.
Now let A. B.
Be the given line
Which must no way incline;
The great Mathematician
Makes this Requisition,
That we describe an Equi--
--lateral Tri--
--angle on it:
Aid us, Reason--aid us, Wit!
II.
From the centre A. at the distance A. B.
Describe the circle B. C. D.
At the distance B. A. from B. the centre
The round A. C. E. to describe boldly venture.
(Third Postulate see.)
And from the point C.
In which the circles make a pother
Cutting and slashing one another,
Bid the straight lines a journeying go,
C. A., C. B. those lines will show.
To the points, which by A. B. are reckon'd,
And postulate the second
For Authority ye know.
A. B. C.
Triumphant shall be
An Equilateral Triangle,
Not Peter Pindar carp, not Zoilus can wrangle.
III.
Because the point A. is the centre
Of the circular B. C. D.
And because the point B. is the centre
Of the circular A. C. E.
A. C. to A. B. and B. C. to B. A.
Harmoniously equal for ever must stay;
Then C. A. and B. C.
Both extend the kind hand
To the basis, A. B.
Unambitiously join'd in Equality's Band.
But to the same powers, when two powers are equal,
My mind forbodes the sequel;
My mind does some celestial impulse teach,
And equalises each to each.
Thus C. A. with B. C. strikes the same sure alliance,
That C. A. and B. C. had with A. B. before;
And in mutual affiance,
None attempting to soar
Above another,
The unanimous three
C. A. and B. C. and A. B.
All are equal, each to his brother,
Preserving the balance of power so true:
Ah! the like would the proud Autocratorix do!
At taxes impending not Britain would tremble,
Nor Prussia struggle her fear to dissemble;
Nor the Mah'met-sprung Wight,
The great Mussulman
Would stain his Divan
With Urine the soft-flowing daughter of Fright.
IV.
But rein your stallion in, too daring Nine!
Should Empires bloat the scientific line?
Or with dishevell'd hair all madly do ye run
For transport that your task is done?
For done it is--the cause is tried!
And Proposition, gentle Maid,
Who soothly ask'd stern Demonstration's aid,
Has prov'd her right, and A. B. C.
Of Angles three
Is shown to be of equal side;
And now our weary steed to rest in fine,
'Tis rais'd upon A. B. the straight, the given line.
Scheme | aa bcCdBeecCffdBaa beaggedggdhaahdeii bgagexadaeaiijjklklgeegxaiiacxa xccffaaadeacc |
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Poetic Form | |
Metre | 111111 0100101001 1 101011 111101 10111 1001 01111 1101 10101 111101 010010 11010 110111 1001 1011 1110111 1 10100101001 01010111 10101011010 010111011010 1101 01011 01010101 100101010 101101001 10111111 1011101110 010010 1010011 011 01011 1110 1101111110 1 010101010 10100111 0010111010 10100011 01101011110 010001011011 110011 101011 101001 11011 1101101110110 111010 1111010101 01111 1101111011010 110011110101 001001 101011 01010 001001 10011001 111011110 01001011011 10110111 110010110110 11010011010 101111 011 11101 11001101011 1 1111001101 1100100101 1111110111 10111111 11110111 0010101 111111 11010011 1101 11111101 01101011101 110101010101 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 2,310 |
Words | 448 |
Sentences | 90 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 2, 15, 18, 31, 13 |
Lines Amount | 79 |
Letters per line (avg) | 22 |
Words per line (avg) | 6 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 353 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 89 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on April 16, 2023
- 2:17 min read
- 198 Views
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"A Mathematical Problem" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/34220/a-mathematical-problem>.
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