> No more but thus: a woman may be seen,
> To haunt her faithful lover in the wood.
The imperfect rhyme lies in the words "seen" and "wood". They are not perfect rhymes, as the vowel sounds are different. However, they are considered slant rhymes, also known as near rhymes, half rhymes, or off rhymes.
Here's how the slant rhyme works in this context:
* Sound Similarity: The words share a similar vowel sound, the short "u" sound. This creates a sense of connection and reinforces the idea of "hunt" and "haunt" within the poem.
* Word Meaning: "Seen" and "wood" have distinct meanings, but they are linked by the hunting imagery. "Seen" refers to the woman's visibility in the forest, while "wood" represents the place where she is being pursued.
This imperfect rhyme serves several purposes:
* Subtlety: It subtly emphasizes the elusive and complex nature of the woman. The imperfect rhyme mirrors the imperfection of the situation, where the speaker's desire remains unfulfilled.
* Melancholy: The slant rhyme contributes to the poem's overall melancholic tone, highlighting the speaker's loneliness and unattainable love.
* Artistic Effect: The imperfect rhyme creates a unique auditory experience, adding a layer of complexity and depth to the poem's meaning.
The slant rhyme in these final lines adds a layer of artistic sophistication and thematic resonance to "Whoso List to Hunt." It reinforces the poem's underlying themes of unattainable love, the elusive nature of beauty, and the complexities of human desire.