Don Diego Of The South Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABCB DDEEFF GGHHII JJKKLLMM NNOOJJ PPQQRR SSBCTUU VVWWXX YYNNZZA2A2 B2C2 D2E2E2F2F2G2KK XXCC H2H2I2J2K2K2 OOIIL2 M2M2N2XO2O2I2I2 YP2P2CBO2O2

Good said the Padre believe me stillA
Don Giovanni or what you willA
The type's eternal We knew him hereB
As Don Diego del Sud I fearC
The story's no new one Will you hearB
-
One of those spirits you can't tell whyD
God has permitted Therein ID
Have the advantage for I holdE
That wolves are sent to the purest foldE
And we'd save the wolf if we'd get the lambF
You're no believer Good I amF
-
Well for some purpose I grant you dimG
The Don loved women and they loved himG
Each thought herself his last love WorstH
Many believed that they were his firstH
And such are these creatures since the FallI
The very doubt had a charm for allI
-
You laugh You are young but I indeedJ
I have no patience To proceedJ
You saw as you passed through the upper townK
The Eucinal where the road goes downK
To San Felipe There one mornL
They found Diego his mantle tornL
And as many holes through his doublet's bandM
As there were wronged husbands you understandM
-
Dying so said the gossips DeadN
Was what the friars who found him saidN
May be Quien sabe Who else should knowO
It was a hundred years agoO
There was a funeral Small indeedJ
Private What would you To proceedJ
-
Scarcely the year had flown One nightP
The Commandante awoke in frightP
Hearing below his casement's barQ
The well known twang of the Don's guitarQ
And rushed to the window just to seeR
His wife a swoon on the balconyR
-
One week later Don Juan RamirezS
Found his own daughter the Dona InezS
Pale as a ghost leaning out to hearB
The song of that phantom cavalierC
Even Alcalde Pedro BlasT
Saw it was said through his niece's glassU
The shade of Diego twice repassU
-
What these gentlemen each confessedV
Heaven and the Church only knows At bestV
The case was a bad one How to dealW
With Sin as a Ghost they couldn't but feelW
Was an awful thing Till a certain FrayX
Humbly offered to show the wayX
-
And the way was this Did I say beforeY
That the Fray was a stranger No Se orY
Strange very strange I should have saidN
That the very week that the Don lay deadN
He came among us Bread he brokeZ
Silent nor ever to one he spokeZ
So he had vowed it Below his browsA2
His face was hidden There are such vowsA2
-
Strange are they not You do not useB2
Snuff A bad habitC2
-
Well the viewsD2
Of the Fray were these that the penance doneE2
By the caballeros was right but oneE2
Was due from the cause and that in briefF2
Was Dona Dolores Gomez chiefF2
And Inez Sanchicha ConcepcionG2
And Carmen well half the girls in townK
On his tablets the Friar had written downK
-
These were to come on a certain dayX
And ask at the hands of the pious FrayX
For absolution That done small fearC
But the shade of Diego would disappearC
-
They came each knelt in her turn and placeH2
To the pious Fray with his hidden faceH2
And voiceless lips and each againI2
Took back her soul freed from spot or stainJ2
Till the Dona Inez with eyes downcastK2
And a tear on their fringes knelt her lastK2
-
And then perhaps that her voice was lowO
From fear or from shame the monks said soO
But the Fray leaned forward when presto allI
Were thrilled by a scream and saw her fallI
Fainting beside the confessionalL2
-
And so was the ghost of Diego laidM2
As the Fray had said Never more his shadeM2
Was seen at San Gabriel's Mission EhN2
The girl interests you I dare sayX
Nothing said she when they brought her toO2
Only a faintness They spoke more trueO2
Who said 'twas a stubborn soul But thenI2
Women are women and men are menI2
-
So to return As I said beforeY
Having got the wolf by the same high lawP2
We saved the lamb in the wolf's own jawP2
And that's my moral The tale I fearC
But poorly told Yet it strikes me hereB
Is stuff for a moral What's your viewO2
You smile Don Pancho Ah that's like youO2

Bret Harte (francis)



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