Tale Xxi Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCDDEEAAFFGGHHIIGG AAJJKLMMNNO PPQQRRSSTTC UU VWWUU BBXXYYZZVVA2A2B2B2KL C2C2IID2D2A2A2E2E2F2 F2G2H2 G2GGI2I2J2J2K2K2I2I2 I2L2L2M2M2IIN2N2O2O2 BBBH2H2CCYYP2 YCCYYYYYYCCYYQ2Q2YYK 2 YYYYBBR Q2R2YYYYCCYYE2E2AAYY YYYYYYYS2S2BBYYRRYYE 2

The Learned BoyA
-
An honest man was Farmer Jones and trueB
He did by all as all by him should doB
Grave cautious careful fond of gain was heC
Yet famed for rustic hospitalityC
Left with his children in a widow'd stateD
The quiet man submitted to his fateD
Though prudent matrons waited for his callE
With cool forbearance he avoided allE
Though each profess'd a pure maternal joyA
By kind attention to his feeble boyA
And though a friendly Widow knew no restF
Whilst neighbour Jones was lonely and distress'dF
Nay though the maidens spoke in tender toneG
Their hearts' concern to see him left aloneG
Jones still persisted in that cheerless lifeH
As if 'twere sin to take a second wifeH
Oh 'tis a precious thing when wives are deadI
To find such numbers who will serve insteadI
And in whatever state a man be thrownG
'Tis that precisely they would wish their ownG
Left the departed infants then their joyA
Is to sustain each lovely girl and boyA
Whatever calling his whatever tradeJ
To that their chief attention has been paidJ
His happy taste in all things they approveK
His friends they honour and his food they loveL
His wish for order prudence in affairsM
An equal temper thank their stars are theirsM
In fact it seem'd to be a thing decreedN
And fix'd as fate that marriage must succeedN
Yet some like Jones with stubborn hearts andO
-
hardP
Can hear such claims and show them no regardP
Soon as our Farmer like a general foundQ
By what strong foes he was encompass'd roundQ
Engage he dared not and he could not flyR
But saw his hope in gentle parley lieR
With looks of kindness then and trembling heartS
He met the foe and art opposed to artS
Now spoke that foe insidious gentle tonesT
And gentle looks assumed for Farmer JonesT
'Three girls ' the Widow cried 'a lively threeC
To govern well indeed it cannot be '-
'Yes ' he replied 'it calls for pains and careU
But I must bear it ' 'Sir you cannot bearU
Your son is weak and asks a mother's eye '-
'That my kind friend a father's may supply '-
'Such growing griefs your very soul will tease '-
'To grieve another would not give me easeV
I have a mother ' 'She poor ancient soulW
Can she the spirits of the young controlW
Can she thy peace promote partake thy careU
Procure thy comforts and thy sorrows shareU
Age is itself impatient uncontroll'd '-
But wives like mothers must at length be old '-
Thou hast shrewd servants they are evils sore '-
Yet a shrewd mistress might afflict me more '-
Wilt thou not be a weary wailing man '-
Alas and I must bear it as I can '-
Resisted thus the Widow soon withdrewB
That in his pride the Hero might pursueB
And off his wonted guard in some retreatX
Find from a foe prepared entire defeatX
But he was prudent for he knew in flightY
These Parthian warriors turn again and fightY
He but at freedom not at glory aim'dZ
And only safety by his caution claim'dZ
Thus when a great and powerful state decreesV
Upon a small one in its love to seizeV
It vows in kindness to protect defendA2
And be the fond ally the faithful friendA2
It therefore wills that humbler state to placeB2
Its hopes of safety in a fond embraceB2
Then must that humbler state its wisdom proveK
By kind rejection of such pressing loveL
Must dread such dangerous friendship to commenceC2
And stand collected in its own defenceC2
Our Farmer thus the proffer'd kindness fledI
And shunn'd the love that into bondage ledI
The Widow failing fresh besiegers cameD2
To share the fate of this retiring dameD2
And each foresaw a thousand ills attendA2
The man that fled from so discreet a friendA2
And pray'd kind soul that no event might makeE2
The harden'd heart of Farmer Jones to acheE2
But he still govern'd with resistless handF2
And where he could not guide he would commandF2
With steady view in course direct he steer'dG2
And his fair daughters loved him though theyH2
-
fear'dG2
Each had her school and as his wealth was knownG
Each had in time a household of her ownG
The Boy indeed was at the Grandam's sideI2
Humour'd and train'd her trouble and her prideI2
Companions dear with speech and spirits mildJ2
The childish widow and the vapourish childJ2
This nature prompts minds uninform'd and weakK2
In such alliance ease and comfort seekK2
Push'd by the levity of youth asideI2
The cares of man his humour or his prideI2
They feel in their defenceless state alliedI2
The child is pleased to meet regard from ageL2
The old are pleased e'en children to engageL2
And all their wisdom scorn'd by proud mankindM2
They love to pour into the ductile mindM2
By its own weakness into error ledI
And by fond age with prejudices fedI
The Father thankful for the good he hadN2
Yet saw with pain a whining timid LadN2
Whom he instructing led through cultured fieldsO2
To show what Man performs what Nature yieldsO2
But Stephen listless wander'd from the viewB
From beasts he fled for butterflies he flewB
And idly gazed about in search of something newB
The lambs indeed he loved and wish'd to playH2
With things so mild so harmless and so gayH2
Best pleased the weakest of the flock to seeC
With whom he felt a sickly sympathyC
Meantime the Dame was anxious day and nightY
To guide the notions of her babe arightY
And on the favourite mind to throw her glimmeringP2
-
lightY
Her Bible stories she impress'd betimesC
And fill'd his head with hymns and holy rhymesC
On powers unseen the good and ill she dweltY
And the poor Boy mysterious terrors feltY
From frightful dreams he waking sobb'd in dreadY
Till the good lady came to guard his bedY
The Father wish'd such errors to correctY
But let them pass in duty and respectY
But more it grieved his worthy mind to seeC
That Stephen never would a farmer beC
In vain he tried the shiftless Lad to guideY
And yet 'twas time that something should be triedY
He at the village school perchance might gainQ2
All that such mind could gather and retainQ2
Yet the good Dame affirm'd her favourite childY
Was apt and studious though sedate and mildY
'That he on many a learned point could speakK2
And that his body not his mind was weak '-
The Father doubted but to school was sentY
The timid Stephen weeping as he wentY
There the rude lads compell'd the child to fightY
And sent him bleeding to his home at nightY
At this the Grandam more indulgent grewB
And bade her Darling 'shun the beastly crewB
Whom Satan ruled and who were sure to lieR
Howling in torments when they came to die '-
This was such comfort that in high disdainQ2
He told their fate and felt their blows againR2
Yet if the Boy had not a hero's heartY
Within the school he play'd a better partY
He wrote a clean fine hand and at his slateY
With more success than many a hero sateY
He thought not much indeed but what dependsC
On pains and care was at his fingers' endsC
This had his Father's praise who now espiedY
A spark of merit with a blaze of prideY
And though a farmer he would never makeE2
He might a pen with some advantage takeE2
And as a clerk that instrument employA
So well adapted to a timid boyA
A London Cousin soon a place obtain'dY
Easy but humble little could be gain'dY
The time arrived when youth and age must partY
Tears in each eye and sorrow in each heartY
The careful Father bade his Son attendY
To all his duties and obey his FriendY
To keep his church and there behave arightY
As one existing in his Maker's sightY
Till acts to habits led and duty to delightY
'Then try my boy as quickly as you canS2
T'assume the looks and spirit of a manS2
I say be honest faithful civil trueB
And this you may and yet have courage tooB
Heroic men their country's boast and prideY
Have fear'd their God and nothing fear'd besideY
While others daring yet imbecile flyR
The power of man and that of God defyR
Be manly then though mild for sure as fateY
Thou art my Stephen too effeminateY
Here take my purse and makeE2

George Crabbe



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