Analysis of To Cordelia
Mark Akenside 1721 (Newcastle upon Tyne) – 1770
From pompous life's dull masquerade,
From Pride's pursuits, and Passion's war,
Far, my Cordelia, very far,
To thee and me may Heaven assign
The silent pleasures of the shade,
The joys of peace, unenvied, though divine!
Safe in the calm embowering grove,
As thy own lovely brow serene;
Behold the world's fantastic scene!
What low pursuits employ the great,
What tinsel things their wishes move,
The forms of Fashion, and the toys of State.
In vain are all Contentment's charms,
Her placid mien, her cheerful eye;
For look, Cordelia, how they fly!
Allur'd by Power, Applause, or Gain,
They fly her kind protecting arms;
Ah, blind to pleasure, and in love with pain!
Turn and indulge a fairer view,
Smile on the joys which here conspire;
O joys harmonious as my lyre!
O prospect of enchanting things,
As ever slumbering poet knew,
When Love and Fancy wrapt him in their wings!
Here, no rude storm of Passion blows,
But Sports, and Smiles, and Virtues play,
Cheer'd by Affection's purest ray;
The air still breathes Contentment's balm,
And the clear stream of Pleasure flows
For ever active, yet for ever calm.
Scheme | ABCDADEFFGHGIJJKIKLMNOLOPQQRPR |
---|---|
Poetic Form | Etheree (27%) Tetractys (20%) |
Metre | 1101101 1101011 111101 110111001 01010101 01111101 100111 11110101 01010101 11010101 11011101 0111000111 011111 01010101 111111 011100111 11010101 1111000111 10010101 110111010 110100111 11010101 110100101 1101011011 11111101 11010101 111101 011111 00111101 1101011101 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,098 |
Words | 194 |
Sentences | 10 |
Stanzas | 1 |
Stanza Lengths | 30 |
Lines Amount | 30 |
Letters per line (avg) | 29 |
Words per line (avg) | 6 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 864 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 190 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:00 min read
- 93 Views
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"To Cordelia" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 9 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/26546/to-cordelia>.
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