Laurel · Edmund Waller

Cooper's Hill, and Other Poems

Edmund Waller (1606–1687) · 1645–1668

Heroic couplets: rhymed pairs of iambic pentameter · 9,071 lines in 173 sections

Edmund Waller and Sir John Denham, who smoothed the couplet into the instrument Dryden and Pope inherited.

Measured across the book

Across its 9,071 lines, 94% of stressed syllables fall on the beat (95% interval 94% to 94%). Alliteration runs at 0.95 times what shuffling the words would give (0.29 observed against 0.30 expected). 11% of the lines have a feminine ending.

Baselines and intervals are described in the methods.

Contents

Of the Danger His Majesty (Being Prince) Escaped in the Road at St Anderoiambic pentameter · AABB · 179 lines Of His Majesty's Receiving the News of the Duke of Buckingham'siambic pentameter · AABB · 46 lines On the Taking of Sallèiambic pentameter · AABB · 46 lines Upon His Majesty's Repairing of St Paul'siambic pentameter · AABB · 69 lines The Countess of Carlisle in Mourningiambic pentameter · 52 lines In Answer to One Who Writ a Libel Against the Countess of Carlisleiambic pentameter · ABABCC · 24 lines Of Her Chamberiambic pentameter · AABB · 22 lines Thyrsis, Galateaiambic pentameter · AABB · 54 lines On My Lady Dorothy Sidney's Pictureiambic pentameter · 24 lines At Penshurstiambic pentameter · AABB · 32 lines Of the Lady Who Can Sleep When She Pleasesiambic pentameter · 22 lines Of the Misreport of Her Being Paintediambic pentameter · AABB · 22 lines Of Her Passing Through a Crowd of Peopleiambic pentameter · AABB · 22 lines The Story of Phoebus and Daphne, Appliediambic pentameter · 21 lines On the Friendship Betwixt Saccharissa and Amorettrochaic tetrameter · ABAB · 24 lines At Penshurstiambic pentameter · AABB · 51 lines The Battle of the Summer Islandsiambic pentameter · AABB · 232 lines Of the Queeniambic pentameter · AABB · 72 lines The Apology of Sleep, for Not Approaching the Lady Who Can Do Anything But Sleep When She Pleasesiambic pentameter · AABBCC · 40 lines Puerperium25 lines A La Maladeiambic tetrameter · AABB · 30 lines Upon the Death of My Lady Richiambic pentameter · AABB · 88 lines Of Loveiambic tetrameter · AABB · 54 lines For Drinking of Healthsiambic pentameter · AABB · 18 lines Of My Lady Isabella, Playing on the Luteiambic pentameter · AABB · 16 lines Of Mrs Ardeniambic tetrameter · AABBCC · 15 lines Of the Marriage of the Dwarfsiambic tetrameter · AABB · 25 lines Love's Farewelliambic tetrameter · ABAB · 14 lines From a Childiambic pentameter · AABB · 18 lines On a Girdleiambic tetrameter · AABB · 12 lines The Falliambic tetrameter · AABB · 26 lines Of Sylviaiambic tetrameter · AABBCCDD · 16 lines The Budiambic tetrameter · 18 lines On the Discovery of a Lady's Paintingiambic tetrameter · ABABCC · 25 lines Of Loving at First Sightiambic tetrameter · AABBCC · 20 lines The Self-Banishediambic tetrameter · ABAB · 20 lines A Panegyric to My Lord Protector, of the Present Greatness, and Joint Interest, of His Highness, and This Nationiambic pentameter · AABB · 190 lines On the Head of a Stagiambic tetrameter · AABB · 20 lines The Miser's Speech. In a Masqueiambic pentameter · AABB · 24 lines Chloris and Hylas, Made to a Sarabandiambic pentameter · ABABCC · 24 lines In Answer of Sir John Suckling's Versesiambic pentameter · AABB · 54 lines An Apology for Having Loved Beforeiambic tetrameter · 28 lines The Night-Piece; Or, a Picture Drawn in the Darkiambic tetrameter · AABB · 42 lines On the Picture of a Fair Youth, Taken After He Was Deadiambic pentameter · 16 lines On a Brede of Divers Colours, Woven by Four Ladiesiambic pentameter · AABB · 8 lines Of a War with Spain, and Fight at Seaiambic pentameter · AABB · 112 lines Upon the Death of the Lord Protectoriambic pentameter · AABB · 34 lines On St James's Park, as Lately Improved by His Majestyiambic pentameter · AABB · 146 lines Of Her Royal Highness, Mother to the Prince of Orange; and of Her Portrait, Written by the Late Duchess of York, While She Lived with Heriambic pentameter · AABB · 24 lines Upon Her Majesty's New Buildings at Somerset Houseiambic tetrameter · AABB · 47 lines Of a Tree Cut in Paperiambic pentameter · AABB · 14 lines Verses to Dr George Rogers, on His Taking the Degree of Doctor of Physic at Padua, in the Year 1664iambic pentameter · AABB · 24 lines Instructions to a Painter, for the Drawing of the Posture and Progress of His Majesty's Forces at Sea, Under the Command of His Highness-Royal; Together with the Battle and Victory Obtained over the Dutch, June 3, 1665iambic pentameter · AABB · 313 lines Of English Verseiambic tetrameter · AABB · 32 lines These Verses Were Writ in the Tasso of Her Royal Highnessiambic pentameter · 10 lines The Triple Combatiambic pentameter · AABB · 44 lines Upon Our Late Loss of the Duke of Cambridgeiambic pentameter · 16 lines Of the Lady Mary, Princess of Orangeiambic tetrameter · ABAB · 42 lines Upon Ben Jonsoniambic pentameter · AABB · 32 lines On Mr John Fletcher's Playsiambic pentameter · AABB · 26 lines Upon the Earl of Roscommon's Translation of Horace, 'De Arte Poetica;' and of the Use of Poetryiambic pentameter · AABB · 58 lines On the Duke of Monmouth's Expedition into Scotland in the Summer Solsticeiambic pentameter · AABB · 45 lines Of an Elegy Made by Mrs Wharton on the Earl of Rochesteriambic tetrameter · AABB · 20 lines Of Her Majesty, on New-Year's Day, 1683iambic pentameter · AABBCC · 21 lines Of Tea, Commended by Her Majestyiambic pentameter · AABB · 10 lines Of the Invasion and Defeat of the Turks, in the Year 1683iambic pentameter · AABB · 78 lines A Presage of the Ruin of the Turkish Empire; Presented to His Majesty King James II. on His Birthdayiambic pentameter · AABB · 58 lines To the King, on His Navyiambic pentameter · AABB · 32 lines To Mr Henry Lawes, Who Had Then Newly Set a Song of Mine in the Year 1635iambic tetrameter · AABB · 33 lines The Country to My Lady Carlisleiambic pentameter · ABABCC · 27 lines To Phyllisiambic tetrameter · AABB · 33 lines To the Queen-Mother of France, upon Her Landingiambic pentameter · 30 lines To Vandyckiambic tetrameter · AABB · 53 lines To My Lord of Leicesteriambic tetrameter · ABABCC · 33 lines To Mrs Braughton, Servant to Saccharissaiambic pentameter · AABB · 43 lines To My Young Lady Lucy Sidneyiambic tetrameter · 18 lines To Amorettrochaic tetrameter · AABB · 61 lines To My Lord of Falklandiambic pentameter · AABB · 45 lines To My Lord Northumberland, upon the Death of His Ladyiambic pentameter · AABB · 50 lines To My Lord Admiral, of His Late Sickness and Recoveryiambic pentameter · AABB · 60 lines To the Queen, Occasioned upon Sight of Her Majesty's Pictureiambic pentameter · AABB · 68 lines To Amorettrochaic tetrameter · ABAB · 14 lines To Phyllistrochaic tetrameter · 22 lines To Sir William Davenant, upon His Two First Books of Gondibert. Written in Franceiambic pentameter · AABB · 42 lines To My Worthy Friend, Mr Wase, the Translator of Gratiusiambic tetrameter · AABB · 33 lines To a Friend, on the Different Success of Their Lovesiambic pentameter · AABB · 31 lines To Zelindaiambic tetrameter · 43 lines To My Lady Morton, on New-Year's Day, at the Louvre in Parisiambic pentameter · AABB · 48 lines To a Fair Lady, Playing with a Snakeiambic tetrameter · AABB · 19 lines To His Worthy Friend Master Evelyn, upon His Translation of 'Lucretius'iambic tetrameter · 44 lines To His Worthy Friend Sir Thomas Higgons, upon His Translation of 'The Venetian Triumph'iambic pentameter · 25 lines To a Lady Singing a Song of His Composingiambic tetrameter · ABAB · 14 lines To the Mutable Fairiambic tetrameter · AABB · 68 lines To a Lady, from Whom He Received a Silver Peniambic tetrameter · ABABCC · 24 lines To Chlorisiambic tetrameter · 9 lines To a Lady in Retirementiambic tetrameter · ABABB · 21 lines To Mr George Sandys, on His Translation of Some Parts of the Bibleiambic tetrameter · 21 lines To the King, upon His Majesty's Happy Returniambic pentameter · AABB · 125 lines To a Lady, from Whom He Received the Copy of the Poem Entitled 'Of a Tree Cut in Paper,' Which for Many Years Had Been Lostiambic tetrameter · AABB · 14 lines To the Queen, upon Her Majesty's Birthday, After Her Happy Recovery from a Dangerous Sicknessiambic tetrameter · AABB · 36 lines To Mr Killigrew, upon His Altering His Play, 'Pandora,' from a Tragedy into a Comedy, Because Not Approved on the Stageiambic pentameter · AABB · 12 lines To a Person of Honour, upon His Incomparable, Incomprehensible Poem, Entitled 'The British Princes'iambic pentameter · AABB · 40 lines To a Friend of the Author, a Person of Honour, Who Lately Writ a Religious Book, Entitled 'Historical Applications, and Occasional Meditations, upon Several Subjects'iambic tetrameter · AABB · 22 lines To the Duchess of Orleans, When She Was Taking Leave of the Court at Dovertrochaic pentameter · AABB · 19 lines To Chlorisiambic tetrameter · AABB · 14 lines To the Kingiambic pentameter · AABB · 26 lines To the Duchess, When He Presented This Book to Her Royal Highnessiambic pentameter · 20 lines To Mr Creech, on His Translation of 'Lucretius'iambic pentameter · AABB · 41 lines Stay, Phoebus!ABABCC · 12 lines Peace, Babbling Muse!iambic tetrameter · AABB · 12 lines Chloris! Farewelliambic tetrameter · ABAB · 28 lines To Flaviaiambic tetrameter · ABABCC · 18 lines Behold the Brand of Beauty Toss'd!iambic tetrameter · 16 lines While I Listen to Thy Voiceiambic tetrameter · 12 lines Go, Lovely Rose!iambic tetrameter · ABABB · 20 lines Sung by Mrs Knight to Her Majesty, on Her Birthdayiambic tetrameter · 20 lines Songiambic tetrameter · ABAB · 28 lines Prologue for the Lady-Actors. Spoken Before King Charles IIiambic pentameter · AABB · 16 lines Prologue to the 'Maid's Tragedy'iambic pentameter · AABB · 40 lines Epilogue to the 'Maid's Tragedy.' Spoken by the Kingiambic pentameter · 20 lines Another Epilogue to the 'Maid's Tragedy,' Designed upon the First Alteration of the Play, When the King Only Was Left Aliveiambic pentameter · 18 lines Under a Lady's Pictureiambic pentameter · AABB · 6 lines Of a Lady Who Writ in Praise of Miraiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines To One Married to an Old Maniambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines An Epigram on a Painted Lady with ILL Teethiambic tetrameter · AABB · 12 lines Epigram upon the Golden Medaliambic tetrameter · AABB · 14 lines Written on a Card That Her Majesty Tore at Ombreiambic pentameter · AABB · 4 lines To Mr Granville (Now Lord Lansdowne), on His Verses to King James IIiambic pentameter · AABB · 6 lines Long and Short LifeAABB · 4 lines Translated Out of SpanishABAB · 4 lines Translated Out of Frenchiambic pentameter · 8 lines Some Verses of an Imperfect Copy, Designed for a Friend, on His Translation of Ovid's 'Fasti'iambic pentameter · AABB · 12 lines On the Statue of King Charles I., at Charing Cross, in the Year 1674iambic pentameter · AABB · 12 lines Prideiambic pentameter · 21 lines Epitaph on Sir George Spekeiambic tetrameter · AABB · 34 lines Epitaph on Colonel Charles Cavendishiambic pentameter · AABB · 36 lines Epitaph on the Lady Sedleyiambic tetrameter · 35 lines Epitaph, to Be Written Under the Latin Inscription upon the Tomb of the Only Son of the Lord Andoveriambic pentameter · AABB · 21 lines Epitaph Unfinishediambic pentameter · AABB · 8 lines Of Divine Love. A Poem in Six Cantosiambic pentameter · AABB · 303 lines Of the Fear of Godiambic pentameter · AABB · 119 lines Of Divine Poesyiambic pentameter · AABB · 131 lines On the Paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer. Written by Mrs Whartoniambic pentameter · AABB · 16 lines Some Reflections of His upon the Several Petitions in the Same Prayeriambic pentameter · AABB · 48 lines On the Foregoing Divine Poemsiambic pentameter · AABBCC · 18 lines Cooper's Hilliambic pentameter · AABB · 366 lines The Destruction of Troyiambic pentameter · AABB · 550 lines On the Earl of Strafford's Trial and Deathiambic pentameter · AABB · 30 lines On My Lord Croft's and My Journey into Poland, from Whence We Brought £10,000 for His Majesty, by the Decimation of His Scottish Subjects Thereiambic trimeter · AABB · 67 lines On Mr Thomas Killigrew's Return from Venice, and Mr William Murrey's from Scotlandanapaestic dimeter · AABCCB · 37 lines To Sir John Mennis, Being Invited from Calais to Boulogne, to Eat a Pigiambic tetrameter · 50 lines Natura Naturataiambic tetrameter · AABB · 24 lines Sarpedon's Speech to Glaucus, in the Twelfth Book of Homeriambic pentameter · AABB · 29 lines Friendship and Single Life, Against Love and Marriageiambic tetrameter · AABB · 103 lines On Mr Abraham Cowley, His Death, and Burial Amongst the Ancient Poetsiambic tetrameter · AABB · 100 lines A Speech Against Peace at the Close Committeeiambic tetrameter · AABCCB · 108 lines To the Five Members of the Honourable House of Commons, the Humble Petition of the Poetsiambic pentameter · AABB · 56 lines A Western Wonderanapaestic common measure · 28 lines A Second Western Wonderanapaestic common measure · 28 lines A Songiambic tetrameter · AABBB · 15 lines On Mr John Fletcher's Worksiambic pentameter · AABB · 40 lines To Sir Richard Fanshaw, upon His Translation of 'Pastor Fido'iambic pentameter · AABB · 44 lines To the Hon. Edward Howard, on 'the British Princes'iambic pentameter · AABB · 32 lines An Occasional Imitation of a Modern Author upon the Game of Chessiambic pentameter · 20 lines The Passion of Dido for Aeneasiambic pentameter · AABB · 258 lines Of Prudenceiambic pentameter · AABB · 262 lines Of Justiceiambic pentameter · AABB · 120 lines Elegy on the Death of Henry Lord Hastings, 1650iambic pentameter · AABB · 59 lines Of Old Ageiambic pentameter · AABB · 114 lines Part Iiambic pentameter · AABB · 166 lines Part IIiambic pentameter · AABB · 156 lines Part IIIiambic pentameter · AABB · 264 lines Part IViambic pentameter · AABB · 266 lines

About this text

Public domain. Text from Poetical Works of Edmund Waller and Sir John Denham, Project Gutenberg ebook #12322. Free to read, print, copy and reuse.

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