Analysis of Ode, written 1739
William Shenstone 1714 (Halesowen) – 1763 (Halesowen)
Urit spes animi credula mutui.-Hor.
Fond hope of a reciprocal desire
Inflames the breast.
'Twas not by beauty's aid alone
That Love usurp'd his airy throne,
His boasted power display'd;
'Tis kindness that secures his aim,
'Tis hope that feeds the kindling flame
Which beauty first convey'd.
In Clara's eyes the lightning view;
Her lips with all the rose's hue
Have all its sweets combined;
Yet vain the blush, and faint the fire,
Till lips at once, and eyes, conspire
To prove the charmer kind--
Though wit might gild the tempting snare
With softest accent, sweetest air,
By envy's self admired;
If Lesbia's wit betray'd her scorn,
In vain might every Grace adorn
What every Muse inspired.
Thus airy Strephon tuned his lyre-
He scorn'd the pangs of wild desire,
Which lovesick swains endure;
Resolved to brave the keenest dart,
Since frowns could never wound his heart;
And smiles-must ever cure.
But, ah! how false these maxims prove,
How frail security from love,
Experience hourly shows;
Love can imagined smiles supply;
On every charming lip and eye
Eternal sweets bestows.
In vain we trust the fair one's eyes;
In vain the sage explores the skies,
To learn from stars his fate;
Till, led by fancy wide astray,
He finds no planet mark his way;
Convinced and wise-too late.
As partial to their words we prove,
Then boldly join the lists of love,
With towering hopes supplied:
So heroes, taught by doubtful shrines,
Mistook their deity's designs;
Then took the field-and died.
Scheme | A AX BBCDDC EEFAAF AAGHHG AAAIIA JKLMML NNOAXO JKPQQP |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 111111 11100100010 0101 1111101 1111101 1101001 11010111 11110101 110101 01010101 01110101 111101 110101010 111101010 110101 11110101 11001101 111010 1110101 011100101 11001010 1101111 110111010 11101 01110101 11110111 011101 11111101 11010011 0100101 11010101 110010101 010101 01110111 01010101 111111 11110101 11110111 010111 11011111 11010111 1100101 11011101 011101 110101 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,452 |
Words | 255 |
Sentences | 12 |
Stanzas | 9 |
Stanza Lengths | 1, 2, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 |
Lines Amount | 45 |
Letters per line (avg) | 26 |
Words per line (avg) | 6 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 129 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 28 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:20 min read
- 75 Views
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"Ode, written 1739" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 1 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/41581/ode%2C-written-1739>.
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