Analysis of The Question to Lisetta
Matthew Prior 1664 – 1721
WHAT nymph should I admire or trust,
But Chloe beauteous, Chloe just?
What nymph should I desire to see,
But her who leaves the plain for me?
To whom should I compose the lay,
But her who listens when I play?
To whom in song repeat my cares,
But her who in my sorrow shares?
For whom should I the garland make,
But her who joys the gift to take,
And boasts she wears it for my sake?
In love am I not fully blest?
Lisetta, prithee tell the rest.
Sure Chloe just, and Chloe fair,
Deserves to be your only care;
But, when you and she to-day
Far into the wood did stray,
And I happen'd to pass by,
Which way did you cast your eye?
But, when your cares to her you sing,
You dare not tell her whence they spring:
Does it not more afflict your heart,
That in those cares she bears a part?
When you the flowers for Chloe twine,
Why do you to her garland join
The meanest bud that falls from mine?
Simplest of swains! the world may see
Whom Chloe loves, and who loves me.
Scheme | AABBCCDDEEEFF GGCCHHIIJJKXKBB |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 11110111 1101101 111101011 10110111 11110101 10110111 11010111 10101101 11110101 10110111 01111111 01111101 11101 11010101 01111101 1110111 1010111 0110111 1111111 11111011 11110111 11110111 10111101 110101101 11110101 01011111 10110111 11010111 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 986 |
Words | 197 |
Sentences | 13 |
Stanzas | 2 |
Stanza Lengths | 13, 15 |
Lines Amount | 28 |
Letters per line (avg) | 26 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 368 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 97 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 59 sec read
- 67 Views
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"The Question to Lisetta" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 6 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/27451/the-question-to-lisetta>.
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