3 The sound of poetry

3.8 Rhyme and meaming

We hope this chapter will have introduced you to some of the complexitiesof rhyme in poetry.In particular,it should have brought home that rhyme isnot a single phenomenon but an umbrella term for several sorts of soundeffect；moreover,the very detection of a rhyme，or of a larger scheme ofrhymes into which it fits，can depend on an impression or an interpretation.We want to finish，however,by moving away from the mere cataloguing ofdifferent sorts of rhyme and discuss instead how rhyme can aggregate orexpress meaning in a piece of verse.Does rhyme have the flexibilit likesome other sound effects we discussed earlier,to mimic or reinforce thecontent of a piece of writing.To consider this important issue，we proposetaking a section from Richard II Act IV Scene i where Richard is on theverge of resigning his crown to the usurper,Henry Bolingbroke：

RICH. To do what service am I sent for hither：

YORK. To do that office of thine own good will

Which tired majesty did make thee offer：

The resignation of thy state and crown

To Henry Bolingbroke.

RICH. C：ive me the crown.Here，cousin，seize the crown.

Here，cousin，

On this side my hand，and on that side thine.

Now is this golden crown like a deep well

That owes two buckets，filling one another,

The emptier ever dancing in the air.

The other down.unseen，and fun of water.

That bucket down and full of tears am I，

Drinking my griefs，whilst you mount up on high.

BOL. I thought you had been willing to resign.RICH. My crown I am，but still my griefs are mine.

You may my glories and my state depose，

But not my griefs；still am I king of those.BOL.Part of your cares you give me with your crown.RICH. Your cares set up do not pluck my cares down.

My care is lOSS of care.by old care done.

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