Analysis of Cantata. Set By Mons. Galliard
Matthew Prior 1664 – 1721
Recit.
Beneath a verdant laurel's ample shade
His lyre to mournful numbers strung,
Horace, immortal bard supinely laid,
To Venus thus address'd the song;
Ten thousand little loves around,
Listening dwelt on every sound.
Ariet.
Potent Venus, bid thy son
Sound no more his dire alarms:
Youth on silent wings is flown;
Graver years come rolling on,
Spare my age unfit for arms:
Safe and humble let me rest,
From all amorous care released.
Potent Venus, bid thy son
Sound no more his dire alarms.
Recit.
Yet, Venus, why do I each morn prepare
The fragrant wreath for Cloe's hair?
Why, why do I all day lament and sigh,
Unless the beauteous maid be nigh?
And why all night pursue her in my dreams
Through flowery meads and crystal streams?
Recit.
Thus sung the bard, and thus the goddess spoke:
Submissive bow to Love's imperious yoke;
Every state and every age
Shall own my rule and fear my rage:
Compell'd by me, thy Muse shall prove
That all the world was born to love.
Ariet.
Bid thy destined lyre discover
Soft desire and gentle pain:
Often praise, and always love her;
Through her ear her heart obtain.
Verse shall please and sight shall move her,
Cupid does with Phoebus reign.
Scheme | Aaxaxaa ABCxxcaaBC Addeeff Agghhxx Aijijij |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 1 0101010101 11110101 10010111 11010101 11010101 100111001 1 1010111 1111101 1110111 1011101 1110111 1010111 11100101 1010111 1111101 1 1101111101 0101111 1111110101 0101111 0111010011 110010101 1 1101010101 01011101001 100101001 11110111 01111111 11011111 1 11101010 10100101 1010110 1010101 11101110 1011101 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,151 |
Words | 212 |
Sentences | 15 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 7, 10, 7, 7, 7 |
Lines Amount | 38 |
Letters per line (avg) | 24 |
Words per line (avg) | 6 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 185 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 42 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:05 min read
- 118 Views
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"Cantata. Set By Mons. Galliard" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 1 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/27340/cantata.--set-by-mons.-galliard>.
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