Analysis of Mutability

Edmund Spenser 1552 (London) – 1599 (London)



When I bethink me on that speech whilere,
Of Mutability, and well it weigh:
Me seems,that though she all unworthy were
Of the Heav'ns Rule; yet very sooth to say,
In all things else she bears the greatest sway.
Which makes me loathe this state of life so tickle,
And love of things so vain to cast away;
Whose flow'ring pride, so fading and so fickle,
Short Time shall soon cut down with his consuming sickle.

Then gin I think on that which Nature said.
Of that same time when no more Change shall be,
But steadfast rest of all things firmly stayed
Upon the pillars of Eternity,
That is contrare to Mutability:
For, all that moveth, doth in Change delight:
But thence-forth all shall rest eternally
With Him that is the God of Sabbaoth hight:
O that great Sabbaoth God, grant me that Sabbaoth's sight.


Scheme ABABBCBCC DEXEDFEFF
Poetic Form
Metre 11111111 110111 111110100 1011110111 0111110101 11111111110 0111111101 11111100110 1111111101010 1111111101 1111111111 111111101 0101010100 11111 111110101 1111110100 111101111 1111111111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 792
Words 149
Sentences 5
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 9, 9
Lines Amount 18
Letters per line (avg) 35
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 315
Words per stanza (avg) 73
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 14, 2023

45 sec read
270

Edmund Spenser

Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. more…

All Edmund Spenser poems | Edmund Spenser Books

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