Tale Xv Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKK LLAAFFMMNNOOPPQQGGRR SSJJTTKUUVVWWX YYZZIIA2A2B2B2C2XD2D 2E2E2F2 G2G2GGA2A2OOG2G2H2H2 I2J2O GGK2K2L2L2M2M2GGA2A2 GGN2N2D2D2FFSSG2G2II O2O2P2Q2VVGGK2K2GGGG R2S2ZZT2 U2 TTV2V2W2 A2A2G2G2X2X2M2M2G2G2 G TTD2D2Y2Y2G2 Z2 G2 A3A3G2G2X2X2A3A3GGGG GGGGXXB3B3C3ADVICE OR THE 'SQUIRE AND THE PRIEST | A |
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A wealthy Lord of far extended land | B |
Had all that pleased him placed at his command | B |
Widow'd of late but finding much relief | C |
In the world's comforts he dismiss'd his grief | C |
He was by marriage of his daughters eased | D |
And knew his sons could marry if they pleased | D |
Meantime in travel he indulged the boys | E |
And kept no spy nor partner of his joys | E |
These joys indeed were of the grosser kind | F |
That fed the cravings of an earthly mind | F |
A mind that conscious of its own excess | G |
Felt the reproach his neighbours would express | G |
Long at th' indulgent board he loved to sit | H |
Where joy was laughter and profaneness wit | H |
And such the guest and manners of the hall | I |
No wedded lady on the 'Squire would call | I |
Here reign'd a Favourite and her triumph gain'd | J |
O'er other favourites who before had reign'd | J |
Reserved and modest seemed the nymph to be | K |
Knowing her lord was charm'd with modesty | K |
For he a sportsman keen the more enjoy'd | L |
The greater value had the thing destroyed | L |
Our 'Squire declared that from a wife released | A |
He would no more give trouble to a Priest | A |
Seem'd it not then ungrateful and unkind | F |
That he should trouble from the priesthood find | F |
The Church he honour'd and he gave the due | M |
And full respect to every son he knew | M |
But envied those who had the luck to meet | N |
A gentle pastor civil and discreet | N |
Who never bold and hostile sermon penned | O |
To wound a sinner or to shame a friend | O |
One whom no being either shunn'd or fear'd | P |
Such must be loved wherever they appear'd | P |
Not such the stern old Rector of the time | Q |
Who soothed no culprit and who spared no crime | Q |
Who would his fears and his contempt express | G |
For irreligion and licentiousness | G |
Of him our Village Lord his guests among | R |
By speech vindictive proved his feelings stung | R |
'Were he a bigot ' said the 'Squire 'whose zeal | S |
Condemn'd us all I should disdain to feel | S |
But when a man of parts in college train'd | J |
Prates of our conduct who would not be pain'd | J |
While he declaims where no one dares reply | T |
On men abandon'd grov'ling in the sty | T |
Like beasts in human shape of shameless luxury | K |
Yet with a patriot's zeal I stand the shock | U |
Of vile rebuke example to his flock | U |
But let this Rector thus severe and proud | V |
Change his wide surplice for a narrow shroud | V |
And I will place within his seat a youth | W |
Train'd by the Graces to explain the Truth | W |
Then shall the flock with gentle hand be led | X |
By wisdom won and by compassion fed ' | - |
This purposed Teacher was a sister's son | Y |
Who of her children gave the priesthood one | Y |
And she had early train'd for this employ | Z |
The pliant talents of her college boy | Z |
At various times her letters painted all | I |
Her brother's views the manners of the Hall | I |
The rector's harshness and the mischief made | A2 |
By chiding those whom preachers should persuade | A2 |
This led the youth to views of easy life | B2 |
A friendly patron an obliging wife | B2 |
His tithe his glebe the garden and the steed | C2 |
With books as many as he wish'd to read | X |
All this accorded with the Uncle's will | D2 |
He loved a priest compliant easy still | D2 |
Sums he had often to his favourite sent | E2 |
'To be ' he wrote 'in manly freedom spent | E2 |
For well it pleased his spirit to assist | F2 |
An honest lad who scorn'd a Methodist ' | - |
His mother too in her maternal care | G2 |
Bade him of canting hypocrites beware | G2 |
Who from his duties would his heart seduce | G |
And make his talents of no earthly use | G |
Soon must a trial of his worth be made | A2 |
The ancient priest is to the tomb convey'd | A2 |
And the Youth summon'd from a serious friend | O |
His guide and host new duties to attend | O |
Three months before the nephew and the 'Squire | G2 |
Saw mutual worth to praise and to admire | G2 |
And though the one too early left his wine | H2 |
The other still exclaim'd 'My boy will shine | H2 |
Yes I perceive that he will soon improve | I2 |
And I shall form the very guide I love | J2 |
Decent abroad he will my name defend | O |
And when at home be social and unbend ' | - |
The plan was specious for the mind of James | G |
Accorded duly with his uncle's schemes | G |
He then aspired not to a higher name | K2 |
Than sober clerks of moderate talents claim | K2 |
Gravely to pray and rev'rendly to preach | L2 |
Was all he saw good youth within his reach | L2 |
Thus may a mass of sulphur long abide | M2 |
Cold and inert but to the flame applied | M2 |
Kindling it blazes and consuming turns | G |
To smoke and poison as it boils and burns | G |
James leaving college to a Preacher stray'd | A2 |
What call'd he knew not but the call obey'd | A2 |
Mild idle pensive ever led by those | G |
Who could some specious novelty propose | G |
Humbly he listen'd while the preacher dwelt | N2 |
On touching themes and strong emotions felt | N2 |
And in this night was fix'd that pliant will | D2 |
To one sole point and he retains it still | D2 |
At first his care was to himself confined | F |
Himself assured he gave it to mankind | F |
His zeal grew active honest earnest zeal | S |
And comfort dealt to him he long'd to deal | S |
He to his favourite preacher now withdrew | G2 |
Was taught to teach instructed to subdue | G2 |
And train'd for ghostly warfare when the call | I |
Of his new duties reach'd him from the Hall | I |
Now to the 'Squire although alert and stout | O2 |
Came unexpected an attack of gout | O2 |
And the grieved patron felt such serious pain | P2 |
He never thought to see a church again | Q2 |
Thrice had the youthful rector taught the crowd | V |
Whose growing numbers spoke his powers aloud | V |
Before the patron could himself rejoice | G |
His pain still lingering in the general voice | G |
For he imputed all this early fame | K2 |
To graceful manner and the well known name | K2 |
And to himself assumed a share of praise | G |
For worth and talents he was pleased to raise | G |
A month had flown and with it fled disease | G |
What pleased before began again to please | G |
Emerging daily from his chamber's gloom | R2 |
He found his old sensations hurrying home | S2 |
Then call'd his nephew and exclaim'd 'My boy | Z |
Let us again the balm of life enjoy | Z |
The foe has left me and I deem it right | T2 |
Should he return to arm me for the fight ' | - |
Thus spoke the 'Squire the favourite nymph | U2 |
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stood by | T |
And view'd the priest with insult in her eye | T |
She thrice had heard him when he boldly spoke | V2 |
On dangerous points and fear'd he would revoke | V2 |
For James she ioved not and her manner told | W2 |
'This warm affection will be quickly cold ' | - |
And still she fear'd impression might be made | A2 |
Upon a subject nervous and decay'd | A2 |
She knew her danger and had no desire | G2 |
Of reformation in the gallant 'Squire | G2 |
And felt an envious pleasure in her breast | X2 |
To see the rector daunted and distress'd | X2 |
Again the Uncle to the youth applied | M2 |
'Cast my dear lad that cursed gloom aside | M2 |
There are for all things time and place appear | G2 |
Grave in your pulpit and be merry here | G2 |
Now take your wine for woes a sure resource | G |
And the best prelude to a long discourse ' | - |
James half obey'd but cast an angry eye | T |
On the fair lass who still stood watchful by | T |
Resolving thus 'I have my fears but still | D2 |
I must perform my duties and I will | D2 |
No love no interest shall my mind control | Y2 |
Better to lose my comforts than my soul | Y2 |
Better my uncle's favour to abjure | G2 |
Than the upbraidings of my heart endure ' | - |
He took his glass and then address'd the | Z2 |
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'Squire | G2 |
'I feel not well permit me to retire ' | - |
The 'Squire conceived that the ensuing day | A3 |
Gave him these terrors for the grand essay | A3 |
When he himself should this young preacher try | G2 |
And stand before him with observant eye | G2 |
This raised compassion in his manly breast | X2 |
And he would send the rector to his rest | X2 |
Yet first in soothing voice 'A moment stay | A3 |
And these suggestions of a friend obey | A3 |
Treasure these hints if fame or peace you prize | G |
The bottle emptied I shall close my eyes | G |
'On every priest a twofold care attends | G |
To prove his talents and insure his friends | G |
First of the first your stores at once produce | G |
And bring your reading to its proper use | G |
On doctrines dwell and every point enforce | G |
By quoting much the scholar's sure resource | G |
For he alone can show us on each head | X |
What ancient schoolmen and sage fathers said | X |
No worth has knowledge if you fail to show | B3 |
How well you studied and how much you know | B3 |
Is fait | C3 |
George Crabbe
(1)
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