This Argument precedes the first act of Jonson's play, Volpone, or The Fox, to offer a brief synopsis of the plot. With the first letters of each line spelling the title, it provides an example of an acrostic poem. |
The purpose of the play is to present instructively some of worst human passions, especially avarice. Volpone, the wealthy, hypocritical old "fox," amuses himself with deluding those who hope to become his heirs, but all come to grief in the end. |
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This poem provides an example of a Pindaric ode in English poetry. |
The TurnBrave infant of Saguntum, clear
Jonson used the terms, turn, counterturn, and stand in place of the strophe, antistrophe, and epode of the Pindaric ode. As in Pindar's verse, the counterturn repeats the metrical pattern of the turn, while meter of the stand is varied. The pattern established in the first triad is then repeated in the remaining groups. |
The CounterturnDid wiser Nature draw thee back
The StandFor what is life, if measured by the space,
The TurnHe entered well, by virtuous parts,
The CounterturnAlas, but Morrison fell young;
The StandGo now, and tell out days summed up with fears,
The TurnIt is not growing like a tree
The CounterturnCall, noble Lucius, then for wine,
The StandJonson! who sung this of him, ere he went
The TurnAnd shine as you exalted are,
The CounterturnThis made you first to know the why
The StandAnd such a force the fair example had,
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