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Imitated from Propertius, Lib: 3: Eleg: 5:


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Imitated from Propertius, Lib: 3: Eleg: 5:


Pacis amor Deus est, &c:

1 Love, gentle power, to peace was e'er a friend:
2 Before the goddess' shrine we too, love's votaries, bend.
3 Still may his bard in softer fights engage:
4 Wars hand to hand with Cynthia let me wage.

5 Long as of youth the joyous hours remain,
6 Me may Castalia's sweet recess detain,
7 Fast by the umbrageous vale lulled to repose,
8 Where Aganippe warbles as it flows;
9 Or roused by sprightly sounds from out the trance,
10 I'd in the ring knit hands and join the Muses' dance.
11 Give me to send the laughing bowl around,
12 My soul in Bacchus' pleasing fetters bound;
13 Let on this head unfading flowers reside,
14 There bloom the vernal rose's earliest pride;
15 And when, our flames commissioned to destroy,
16 Age step 'twixt love and me, and intercept our joy;
17 When my changed head these locks no more shall know,
18 And all its jetty honours turn to snow;
19 Then let me rightly spell of nature's ways.
20 To Providence, to him my thoughts I'd raise,
21 Who taught this vast machine its steadfast laws,
22 That first, eternal, universal Cause;
23 Search to what regions yonder star retires,
24 Who monthly waning hides her paly fires,
25 And whence, anew revived, with silver light
26 Relumes her crescent orb to cheer the dreary night;
27 How rising winds the face of ocean sweep;
28 Where lie the eternal fountains of the deep;
29 And whence the cloudy magazines maintain
30 Their wintry war or pour the autumnal rain;
31 How flames perhaps, with dire confusion hurled,
32 Shall sink this beauteous fabric of the world;
33 What colours paint the vivid arch of Jove;
34 What wondrous force the solid earth can move,
35 When Pindus' self approaching ruin dreads,
36 Shakes all his pines and bows his hundred heads;
37 Why does yon orb, so exquisitely bright,
38 Obscure his radiance in a short-lived night;
39 Whence the Seven Sisters' congregated fires,
40 And what Bootes' lazy wagon tires;
41 How the rude surge its sandy bounds control;
42 Who measured out the year and bade the seasons roll;
43 If realms beneath those fabled torments know,
44 Pangs without respite, fires that ever glow;
45 Earth's monster-brood stretched on their iron bed;
46 The hissing terrors round Alecto's head;
47 Scarce to nine acres Tityus' bulk confined;
48 The triple dog that scares the shadowy kind;
49 All angry heaven inflicts or hell can feel,
50 The pendent rock, Ixion's whirling wheel,
51 Famine at feasts and thirst amid the stream.
52 Or are our fears the enthusiast's empty dream,
53 And all the scenes that hurt the grave's repose,
54 But pictured horror and poetic woes?

55 These soft, inglorious joys my hours engage;
56 Be love my youth's pursuit and science crown my age.
57 You, whose young bosoms feel a nobler flame,
58 Redeem what Crassus lost and vindicate his name.

Expanding the poem lines (+) shows the results of a computationally facilitated analysis of the text. These results should be considered as a basis for deeper interpretative enquiry such as can be found in the notes and queries.

0 Imitated from Propertius, Lib: 3: Eleg: 5:

Metrical notation:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/
Metrical foot type:  iambic (-+)
Metrical foot number:  pentameter (5 feet)
Rhyme scheme:  aa
Rhyme (stanza position):  pair (aabb)
Syllable pattern:  10
Stanza:  couplet (2 lines)
Genre(s):  heroic couplet

Notation symbols: | (foot boundary), || (caesura), / (metrical line boundary), + (metrically prominent), - (metrically non-prominent)


Pacis amor Deus est, &c:

1 Love, gentle power, to peace was e'er a friend:    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  friend   |   Rhyme sound:  /end/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): power/peace /p/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): gentle/friend /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): gentle/friend /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): power/peace /p/
Figure:  syncope (morphological): e'er

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2 Before the goddess' shrine we too, love's votaries, bend.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  bend   |   Rhyme sound:  /end/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Before/bend /b/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Before/bend /b/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): shrine/bend /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): too/votaries /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): love's/votaries /v/

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3 Still may his bard in softer fights engage:    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  engage   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪdʒ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Still/softer /s/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Still/his/in/engage /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): may/engage /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Still/softer /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): in/engage /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): softer/fights /f/

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4 Wars hand to hand with Cynthia let me wage.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  wage   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪdʒ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Wars/wage /w/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): hand/hand /h/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): hand/hand /æ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): with/Cynthia /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Wars/with/wage /w/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): hand/hand/Cynthia /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): hand/hand /h/
Figure:  diacope (morphological): hand/hand

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5 Long as of youth the joyous hours remain,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  remain   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪn/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Long/of /ɒ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): as/hours /z/

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6 Me may Castalia's sweet recess detain,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  detain   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪn/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Me/may /m/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Me/sweet /iː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): may/Castalia's/detain /eɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): recess/detain /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Me/may /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Castalia's/sweet/recess /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sweet/detain /t/

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7 Fast by the umbrageous vale lulled to repose,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  repose   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): umbrageous/lulled /ʌ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): umbrageous/vale /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): by/umbrageous /b/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): vale/lulled /l/

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8 Where Aganippe warbles as it flows;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  flows   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Where/warbles /w/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Aganippe/it /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Where/warbles /w/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): as/flows /z/

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9 Or roused by sprightly sounds from out the trance,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  trance   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɑːns/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): sprightly/sounds /s/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): roused/sounds/out /aʊ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): by/sprightly /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sprightly/sounds /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sprightly/out/trance /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sounds/trance /n/

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10 I'd in the ring knit hands and join the Muses' dance.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  dance   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɑːns/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): in/ring/knit /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): hands/and /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): I'd/dance /d/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): in/knit/hands/join/dance /n/

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11 Give me to send the laughing bowl around,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  around   |   Rhyme sound:  /aʊnd/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): send/around /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): laughing/bowl /l/

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12 My soul in Bacchus' pleasing fetters bound;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  bound   |   Rhyme sound:  /aʊnd/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Bacchus'/bound /b/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): in/bound /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Bacchus'/bound /b/

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13 Let on this head unfading flowers reside,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  reside   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪd/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Let/head /e/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): this/reside /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): on/unfading /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): head/unfading/reside /d/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): unfading/flowers /f/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): flowers/reside /z/

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14 There bloom the vernal rose's earliest pride;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  pride   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪd/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): vernal/earliest /ɜː/

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15 And when, our flames commissioned to destroy,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  destroy   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): commissioned/destroy /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): flames/commissioned /m/

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16 Age step 'twixt love and me, and intercept our joy;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  joy   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔɪ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): step/intercept /e/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): 'twixt/intercept /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): and/and /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Age/joy /dʒ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): step/intercept /p/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): step/intercept /s/
Figure:  aphaeresis (morphological): 'twixt

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17 When my changed head these locks no more shall know,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  know   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): my/more /m/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): no/know /n/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): When/head /e/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): no/know /əʊ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): When/changed/no/know /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): my/more /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): locks/shall /l/

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18 And all its jetty honours turn to snow;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  snow   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): its/jetty/turn /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): honours/turn /n/

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19 Then let me rightly spell of nature's ways.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  ways   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Then/let/spell /e/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): nature's/ways /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Then/nature's /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): let/spell /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): let/rightly /t/

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20 To Providence, to him my thoughts I'd raise,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  raise   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): To/to /uː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/I'd /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): him/my /m/

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21 Who taught this vast machine its steadfast laws,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  laws   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔːz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): taught/laws /ɔː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): this/its /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): taught/its /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): this/vast/steadfast /s/

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22 That first, eternal, universal Cause;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  Cause   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɔːz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): first/eternal/universal /ɜː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): That/eternal /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): first/universal /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): eternal/universal /n/

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23 Search to what regions yonder star retires,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  retires   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪəz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Search/star /s/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): regions/retires /r/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): what/yonder /ɒ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Search/star /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): what/retires /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): regions/retires /r/

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24 Who monthly waning hides her paly fires,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  fires   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪəz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Who/hides/her /h/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): waning/paly /eɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): hides/fires /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Who/hides/her /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): monthly/waning /n/

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25 And whence, anew revived, with silver light    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  light   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): revived/light /aɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): with/silver /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): whence/with /w/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): whence/anew /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): silver/light /l/

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26 Relumes her crescent orb to cheer the dreary night;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  night   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Relumes/crescent /e/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): cheer/dreary /ɪə/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Relumes/dreary /r/

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27 How rising winds the face of ocean sweep;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  sweep   |   Rhyme sound:  /iːp/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): face/sweep /s/

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28 Where lie the eternal fountains of the deep;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  deep   |   Rhyme sound:  /iːp/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): eternal/fountains /n/

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29 And whence the cloudy magazines maintain    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  maintain   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪn/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): magazines/maintain /m/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): And/magazines /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): whence/magazines/maintain /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): magazines/maintain /m/

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30 Their wintry war or pour the autumnal rain;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  rain   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪn/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): wintry/war /w/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): war/or/pour/autumnal /ɔː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): wintry/war /w/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): wintry/rain /n/

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31 How flames perhaps, with dire confusion hurled,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  hurled   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɜːld/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): How/hurled /h/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): perhaps/confusion /ə/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): How/perhaps/hurled /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): flames/confusion /f/

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32 Shall sink this beauteous fabric of the world;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  world   |   Rhyme sound:  /ɜːld/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Shall/fabric /æ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): sink/this /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Shall/world /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sink/this /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): beauteous/fabric /b/

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33 What colours paint the vivid arch of Jove;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  Jove   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊv/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): What/of /ɒ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): vivid/of/Jove /v/
Figure:  anaphora (morphological): What

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34 What wondrous force the solid earth can move,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  move   |   Rhyme sound:  /uːv/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): What/wondrous /w/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): What/solid /ɒ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): What/wondrous /w/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): wondrous/can /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): force/solid /s/
Figure:  anaphora (morphological): What

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35 When Pindus' self approaching ruin dreads,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  dreads   |   Rhyme sound:  /edz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): When/self/dreads /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): When/Pindus'/ruin /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Pindus'/approaching /p/

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36 Shakes all his pines and bows his hundred heads;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  heads   |   Rhyme sound:  /edz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): his/his/hundred/heads /h/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): his/his /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): his/his/hundred/heads /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): his/bows/his /z/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): pines/hundred /n/
Figure:  diacope (morphological): his/his

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37 Why does yon orb, so exquisitely bright,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  bright   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Why/bright /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): does/exquisitely /z/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): orb/bright /b/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): so/exquisitely /s/

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38 Obscure his radiance in a short-lived night;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  night   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪt/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): his/in/short-lived /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): in/night /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): short-lived/night /t/

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39 Whence the Seven Sisters' congregated fires,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  fires   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪəz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Seven/Sisters' /s/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Whence/Seven /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Seven/Sisters' /s/

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40 And what Bootes' lazy wagon tires;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  tires   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪəz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): what/wagon /w/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): And/wagon /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): what/wagon /w/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): what/Bootes'/tires /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): lazy/tires /z/

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41 How the rude surge its sandy bounds control;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  control   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊl/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): surge/sandy /s/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): How/bounds /aʊ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): surge/sandy /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): its/control /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): sandy/bounds/control /n/

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42 Who measured out the year and bade the seasons roll;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  roll   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊl/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): and/bade /æ/

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43 If realms beneath those fabled torments know,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  know   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): If/beneath /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): realms/torments /e/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): those/know /əʊ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): If/fabled /f/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): beneath/torments/know /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): beneath/fabled /b/

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44 Pangs without respite, fires that ever glow;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  glow   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Pangs/that /æ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): respite/ever /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): without/that /ð/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): without/that /t/

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45 Earth's monster-brood stretched on their iron bed;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  bed   |   Rhyme sound:  /ed/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): monster-brood/on /ɒ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): stretched/bed /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): monster-brood/on/iron /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): monster-brood/bed /b/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): monster-brood/bed /d/

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46 The hissing terrors round Alecto's head;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  head   |   Rhyme sound:  /ed/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): hissing/head /h/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): terrors/Alecto's/head /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): hissing/head /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): terrors/round /r/

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47 Scarce to nine acres Tityus' bulk confined;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  confined   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪnd/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): nine/confined /aɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): nine/confined /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): acres/confined /k/

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48 The triple dog that scares the shadowy kind;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  kind   |   Rhyme sound:  /aɪnd/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): that/shadowy /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): triple/that /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): dog/shadowy /d/

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49 All angry heaven inflicts or hell can feel,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  feel   |   Rhyme sound:  /iːl/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): heaven/hell /h/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): All/or /ɔː/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): angry/can /æ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): heaven/hell /e/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): All/hell/feel /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): heaven/hell /h/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): inflicts/can /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): inflicts/can /k/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): inflicts/feel /f/

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50 The pendent rock, Ixion's whirling wheel,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  wheel   |   Rhyme sound:  /iːl/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): whirling/wheel /w/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): rock/Ixion's /k/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): whirling/wheel /l/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): whirling/wheel /w/

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51 Famine at feasts and thirst amid the stream.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  stream   |   Rhyme sound:  /iːm/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): Famine/feasts /f/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Famine/at/and /æ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): feasts/stream /iː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Famine/amid/stream /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Famine/feasts /f/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): feasts/thirst/stream /s/

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52 Or are our fears the enthusiast's empty dream,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  dream   |   Rhyme sound:  /iːm/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  consonance (phonological): fears/enthusiast's /z/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): empty/dream /m/

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53 And all the scenes that hurt the grave's repose,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  repose   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): And/that /æ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): that/hurt /t/

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54 But pictured horror and poetic woes?    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  woes   |   Rhyme sound:  /əʊz/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): pictured/poetic /p/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): poetic/woes /əʊ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): But/poetic /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): pictured/poetic /p/

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55 These soft, inglorious joys my hours engage;    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  engage   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪdʒ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): inglorious/engage /ɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): These/joys/hours /z/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): inglorious/engage /n/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): inglorious/engage /g/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): joys/engage /dʒ/

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56 Be love my youth's pursuit and science crown my age.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  age   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪdʒ/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): my/my /m/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): my/science/my /aɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): youth's/pursuit /uː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): my/my /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): pursuit/science /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): science/crown /n/
Figure:  diacope (morphological): my/my

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57 You, whose young bosoms feel a nobler flame,    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  flame   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪm/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): You/young /j/
Figure:  alliteration (phonological): feel/flame /f/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): You/whose /uː/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): You/young /j/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): whose/bosoms /z/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): bosoms/nobler /b/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): feel/flame /f/

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58 Redeem what Crassus lost and vindicate his name.    
Rhyme:  aa   |   Rhyme word(s):  name   |   Rhyme sound:  /eɪm/   |   Rhyme (line position):  end
Metre:  -+|-+|-+|-+|-+/   |   Syllables:  10
Figure:  assonance (phonological): Redeem/vindicate/his /ɪ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): what/lost /ɒ/
Figure:  assonance (phonological): vindicate/name /eɪ/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Redeem/name /m/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): what/vindicate /t/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Crassus/vindicate /k/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): Crassus/lost /s/
Figure:  consonance (phonological): vindicate/name /n/

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Expanding the poem lines (+) shows notes and queries taken from various critical editions of Gray's works, as well as those contributed by users of the Archive. There are 0 textual and 1 explanatory notes/queries.

All notes and queries are shown by default.

0 Imitated from Propertius, Lib: 3: Eleg: 5: 1 Explanatory

Title/Paratext] "Sextus Propertius (c. 50 B.C.-post [...]" H.W. Starr/J.R. Hendrickson, 1966.

"Sextus Propertius (c. 50 B.C.-post 15 B.C.), a friend of Virgil and Ovid, wrote amatory elegies to his mistress Hostia, who appears in his poems as Cynthia."

The Complete Poems of Thomas Gray: English, Latin and Greek. Edited by Herbert W. Starr and J. R. Hendrickson. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1966, 232.

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Pacis amor Deus est, &c:

1 Love, gentle power, to peace was e'er a friend:
2 Before the goddess' shrine we too, love's votaries, bend.
3 Still may his bard in softer fights engage:
4 Wars hand to hand with Cynthia let me wage.

5 Long as of youth the joyous hours remain,
6 Me may Castalia's sweet recess detain,
7 Fast by the umbrageous vale lulled to repose,
8 Where Aganippe warbles as it flows;
9 Or roused by sprightly sounds from out the trance,
10 I'd in the ring knit hands and join the Muses' dance.
11 Give me to send the laughing bowl around,
12 My soul in Bacchus' pleasing fetters bound;
13 Let on this head unfading flowers reside,
14 There bloom the vernal rose's earliest pride;
15 And when, our flames commissioned to destroy,
16 Age step 'twixt love and me, and intercept our joy;
17 When my changed head these locks no more shall know,
18 And all its jetty honours turn to snow;
19 Then let me rightly spell of nature's ways.
20 To Providence, to him my thoughts I'd raise,
21 Who taught this vast machine its steadfast laws,
22 That first, eternal, universal Cause;
23 Search to what regions yonder star retires,
24 Who monthly waning hides her paly fires,
25 And whence, anew revived, with silver light
26 Relumes her crescent orb to cheer the dreary night;
27 How rising winds the face of ocean sweep;
28 Where lie the eternal fountains of the deep;
29 And whence the cloudy magazines maintain
30 Their wintry war or pour the autumnal rain;
31 How flames perhaps, with dire confusion hurled,
32 Shall sink this beauteous fabric of the world;
33 What colours paint the vivid arch of Jove;
34 What wondrous force the solid earth can move,
35 When Pindus' self approaching ruin dreads,
36 Shakes all his pines and bows his hundred heads;
37 Why does yon orb, so exquisitely bright,
38 Obscure his radiance in a short-lived night;
39 Whence the Seven Sisters' congregated fires,
40 And what Bootes' lazy wagon tires;
41 How the rude surge its sandy bounds control;
42 Who measured out the year and bade the seasons roll;
43 If realms beneath those fabled torments know,
44 Pangs without respite, fires that ever glow;
45 Earth's monster-brood stretched on their iron bed;
46 The hissing terrors round Alecto's head;
47 Scarce to nine acres Tityus' bulk confined;
48 The triple dog that scares the shadowy kind;
49 All angry heaven inflicts or hell can feel,
50 The pendent rock, Ixion's whirling wheel,
51 Famine at feasts and thirst amid the stream.
52 Or are our fears the enthusiast's empty dream,
53 And all the scenes that hurt the grave's repose,
54 But pictured horror and poetic woes?

55 These soft, inglorious joys my hours engage;
56 Be love my youth's pursuit and science crown my age.
57 You, whose young bosoms feel a nobler flame,
58 Redeem what Crassus lost and vindicate his name.

Works cited

  • The Complete Poems of Thomas Gray: English, Latin and Greek. Edited by Herbert W. Starr and J. R. Hendrickson. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1966.

Spelling has been modernized throughout, except in case of conscious archaisms. Contractions, italics and initial capitalization have been largely eliminated, except where of real import. Obvious errors have been silently corrected, punctuation has been supplied. The editor would like to express his gratitude to the library staff of the Göttingen State and University Library (SUB Göttingen) for their invaluable assistance.

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Editions in the Digital Library

  • 1814: The Works of Thomas Gray, Vol. II. Ed. Thomas James Mathias. London, 1814.
  • 1836: The Works of Thomas Gray, Volume I. Ed. John Mitford. London, 1836.