Analysis of Song V. - On every tree, in every plain

William Shenstone 1714 (Halesowen) – 1763 (Halesowen)



Ah! ego non aliter tristes evincere morbos
Optarem, quam te sic quoque velle putem.

On every tree, in every plain,
I trace the jovial spring in vain;
A sickly langour veils mine eyes,
And fast my waning vigour flies.

Nor flowery plain, nor budding tree,
That smile on others, smile on me;
Mine eyes from death shall court repose,
Nor shed a tear before they close.

What bliss to me can seasons bring?
Or what the needless pride of spring?
The cypress bough, that suits the bier,
Retains its verdure all the year.

'Tis true, my vine, so fresh and fair,
Might claim awhile my wonted care;
My rural store some pleasure yield,
So white a flock, so green a field!

My friends, that each in kindness vie,
Might well expect one parting sigh;
Might well demand one tender tear;
For when was Damon insincere?

But ere I ask once more to view
Yon setting sun his race renew,
Inform me, Swains! my friends, declare,
Will pitying Delia join the prayer?


Scheme AB CCAA XBAA DDXE FFGG HHFE IIFF
Poetic Form
Metre 11011111 1111111 1100101001 110100101 0101111 0111011 110011101 11110111 11111101 11010111 11111101 11010111 01011101 0111101 11111101 1101111 11011101 11011101 11110101 11011101 11011101 1111001 11111111 11011101 01111101 110010101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 921
Words 173
Sentences 12
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 26
Letters per line (avg) 28
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 104
Words per stanza (avg) 24
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

51 sec read
65

William Shenstone

William Shenstone was an English poet and one of the earliest practitioners of landscape gardening through the development of his estate, The Leasowes. more…

All William Shenstone poems | William Shenstone Books

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