Question

Determine the rhyme scheme of the following poem.

XVII Who will believe my verse in time to come,
If it were fill'd with your most high deserts?
Though yet heaven knows it is but as a tomb
Which hides your life, and shows not half your parts.
If I could write the beauty of your eyes,
And in fresh numbers number all your graces,
The age to come would say 'This poet lies;
Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces.'
So should my papers, yellow'd with their age,
Be scorn'd, like old men of less truth than tongue,
And your true rights be term'd a poet's rage
And stretched metre of an antique song:
But were some child of yours alive that time,
You should live twice,—in it, and in my rhyme.
—William Shakespeare

Answer 1

Who will believe my verse in time to come, - A

If it were fill'd with your most high deserts? - B

Though yet heaven knows it is but as a tomb - A

Which hides your life, and shows not half your parts. - B

If I could write the beauty of your eyes, - C

And in fresh numbers number all your graces, - D

The age to come would say 'This poet lies; - C

Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces. - D

'

So should my papers, yellow'd with their age, - E

Be scorn'd, like old men of less truth than tongue, - F

And your true rights be term'd a poet's rage - E

And stretched metre of an antique song: - F

But were some child of yours alive that time, - G

You should live twice,—in it, and in my rhyme. - G

The rhyme scheme of the above poem is a ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. It is a SONNET. A Shakespearian Sonnet to be exact.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Who will believe my verse in time to come, - A
If it were fill'd with your most high deserts? - B
Though yet heaven knows it is but as a tomb - A
Which hides your life, and shows not half your parts. - B

If I could write the beauty of your eyes, - C
And in fresh numbers number all your graces, - D
The age to come would say 'This poet lies; - C
Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces. - D
'
So should my papers, yellow'd with their age, - E
Be scorn'd, like old men of less truth than tongue, - F
And your true rights be term'd a poet's rage - E
And stretched metre of an antique song: - F

But were some child of yours alive that time, - G
You should live twice,—in it, and in my rhyme. - G


The rhyme scheme of the above poem is a ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. It is a SONNET. A Shakespearian Sonnet to be exact.