Analysis of The Horse And The Olive: Or, War And Peace
Thomas Parnell 1679 (Dublin) – 1718
With Moral Tale let Ancient Wisdom move,
Which thus I sing to make the Moderns wise:
Strong Neptune once with sage Minerva strove,
And rising Athens was the Victor's Prize.
By Neptune, Plutus (Guardian Pow'r of Gain),
By Great Minerva, Bright Apollo stood:
But Jove superior bad the Side obtain
Which best contriv'd to do the Nation Good.
Then Neptune striking, from the parted Ground
The Warlike Horse came pawing on the Plain,
And as it toss'd its Mane, and pranc'd around,
By this, he cries, I'll make the People Reign.
The Goddess smiling gently bow'd the Spear,
And, rather thus they shall be bless'd, she said;
Then upwards shooting in the Vernal Air
With loaded Boughs the fruitful Olive spread.
Jove saw what Gifts the Rival Pow'rs design'd,
And took th' impartial Scales, resolv'd to show,
If greater Bliss in Warlike Pomp we find,
Or in the Calm which Peaceful Times bestow.
On Neptune's part he plac'd Victorious Days,
Gay Trophies won, and Fame extending wide:
But Plenty, Safety, Science, Arts, and Ease,
Minerva's Scale with greater Weight supply'd.
Fierce War devours whom gentle Peace wou'd save,
Sweet Peace restores what angry War destroys,
War made for Peace with that rewards the Brave,
While Peace its Pleasures from it self enjoys.
Hence vanquish'd Neptune to the Sea withdrew,
Hence wise Minerva rul'd Athenian Lands,
Her Athens hence in Arts and Honour grew,
And still her Olives deck pacifick Hands.
From Fables thus disclos'd, a Monarch's Mind
May form just Rules to chuse the Truly-Great:
And Subjects weary'd with Distresses find
Whose kind Endeavours most befriend the State.
Ev'n Britain here may learn to place her Love,
If Cities won her Kingdoms Wealth have cost,
If Anna's Thoughts the patriot-souls approve
Whose Cares restore that Wealth the Wars had lost.
But if we ask the Moral to disclose
Whom best europa's Patroness it calls,
Great ANNA's Title no Exception knows,
And unapply'd in this the Fable falls.
With Her no Neptune or Minerva vyes;
Whene'er she pleas'd her Troops to Conquest flew,
Whene'er she pleases Peaceful Times arise:
She gave the Horse, and gives the Olive too.
Scheme | ABCBDEDEFDFDGHIHJKJKLMNEOPOPQRQRJSJSTUAVWXWXBQBQ |
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Poetic Form | |
Metre | 1101110101 1111110101 1101110101 0101010101 11011001111 1101010101 11010010101 1101110101 1101010101 011110101 0111110101 1111110101 0101010101 0101111111 1101000101 1101010101 1111010101 011101010111 110101111 1001110101 1111101001 1101010101 1101010101 1111011 11010110111 1101110101 1111110101 1111011101 1101010101 11010101001 010101011 01010111 110101011 1111110101 010110101 11110101 11101111101 1101010111 11010100101 1101110111 1111010101 11110011 1101010101 01010101 1011010101 111011101 111010101 1101010101 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 2,082 |
Words | 359 |
Sentences | 13 |
Stanzas | 1 |
Stanza Lengths | 48 |
Lines Amount | 48 |
Letters per line (avg) | 35 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 1,673 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 357 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on April 06, 2023
- 1:56 min read
- 61 Views
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"The Horse And The Olive: Or, War And Peace" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/37082/the-horse-and-the-olive%3A-or%2C-war-and-peace>.
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