The Borough. Letter Xi: Inns Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABC BDC DEE C FG FH IJ IKFLG L H MMGGNNOP Q RC RRRST SGB G UURRRRVVAAWWSSR GGRRGGRRRRXXRRGGFFRR XXRRYYGGRRRRGGRRRR Z A2A2B2B2RRC2C2YYRRRR RRXXRRSSGGBBD2D2RRRR SSC2C2RRE2D2RRY RRRRRRGGYYGG GYYRRF2F2RRG2G2RRRRZ RRD2D2RRYYRRRRH2I2GG YYGO| All the comforts of life in a Tavern are known | A |
| 'Tis his home who possesses not one of his own | A |
| And to him who has rather too much of that one | B |
| 'Tis the house of a friend where he's welcome to | C |
| - | |
| run | B |
| The instant you enter my door you're my Lord | D |
| With whose taste and whose pleasure I'm proud to | C |
| - | |
| accord | D |
| And the louder you call and the longer you stay | E |
| The more I am happy to serve and obey | E |
| - | |
| To the house of a friend if you're pleased to | C |
| - | |
| retire | F |
| You must all things admit you must all tilings | G |
| - | |
| admire | F |
| You must pay with observance the price of your | H |
| - | |
| treat | I |
| You must eat what is praised and must praise what | J |
| - | |
| you eat | I |
| But here you may come and no tax we require | K |
| You may loudly condemn what you greatly admire | F |
| You may growl at our wishes and pains to excel | L |
| And may snarl at the rascals who please you so | G |
| - | |
| well | L |
| - | |
| At your wish we attend and confess that your | H |
| - | |
| speech | M |
| On the nation's affairs might the minister teach | M |
| His views you may blame and his measures oppose | G |
| There's no Tavern treason you're under the Rose | G |
| Should rebellions arise in your own little state | N |
| With me you may safely their consequence wait | N |
| To recruit your lost spirits 'tis prudent to come | O |
| And to fly to a friend when the devil's at home | P |
| - | |
| That I've faults is confess'd but it won't be | Q |
| - | |
| denied | R |
| 'Tis my interest the faults of my neighbours to | C |
| - | |
| hide | R |
| If I've sometimes lent Scandal occasion to prate | R |
| I've often conceal'd what she lov'd to relate | R |
| If to Justice's bar some have wander'd from mine | S |
| 'Twas because the dull rogues wouldn't stay by | T |
| - | |
| their wine | S |
| And for brawls at my house well the poet explains | G |
| That men drink shallow draughts and so madden | B |
| - | |
| their brains | G |
| - | |
| MUCH do I need and therefore will I ask | U |
| A Muse to aid me in my present task | U |
| For then with special cause we beg for aid | R |
| When of our subject we are most afraid | R |
| INNS are this subject 'tis an ill drawn lot | R |
| So thou who gravely triflest fail me not | R |
| Fail not but haste and to my memory bring | V |
| Scenes yet unsung which few would choose to sing | V |
| Thou mad'st a Shilling splendid thou hast thrown | A |
| On humble themes the graces all thine own | A |
| By thee the Mistress of a Village school | W |
| Became a queen enthroned upon her stool | W |
| And far beyond the rest thou gav'st to shine | S |
| Belinda's Lock that deathless work was thine | S |
| Come lend thy cheerful light and give to | R |
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| please | G |
| These seats of revelry these scenes of ease | G |
| Who sings of Inns much danger has to dread | R |
| And needs assistance from the fountain head | R |
| High in the street o'erlooking all the place | G |
| The rampant Lion shows his kingly face | G |
| His ample jaws extend from side to side | R |
| His eyes are glaring and his nostrils wide | R |
| In silver shag the sovereign form is dress'd | R |
| A mane horrific sweeps his ample chest | R |
| Elate with pride he seems t'assert his reign | X |
| And stands the glory of his wide domain | X |
| Yet nothing dreadful to his friends the sight | R |
| But sign and pledge of welcome and delight | R |
| To him the noblest guest the town detains | G |
| Flies for repast and in his court remains | G |
| Him too the crowd with longing looks admire | F |
| Sigh for his joys and modestly retire | F |
| Here not a comfort shall to them be lost | R |
| Who never ask or never feel the cost | R |
| The ample yards on either side contain | X |
| Buildings where order and distinction reign | X |
| The splendid carriage of the wealthier guest | R |
| The ready chaise and driver smartly dress'd | R |
| Whiskeys and gigs and curricles are there | Y |
| And high fed prancers many a raw boned pair | Y |
| On all without a lordly host sustains | G |
| The care of empire and observant reigns | G |
| The parting guest beholds him at his side | R |
| With pomp obsequious bending in his pride | R |
| Round all the place his eyes all objects meet | R |
| Attentive silent civil and discreet | R |
| O'er all within the lady hostess rules | G |
| Her bar she governs and her kitchen schools | G |
| To every guest th' appropriate speech is made | R |
| And every duty with distinction paid | R |
| Respectful easy pleasant or polite | R |
| 'Your honour's servant' 'Mister Smith good night | R |
| - | |
| ' | - |
| Next but not near yet honour'd through the | Z |
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| town | A2 |
| There swing incongruous pair the Bear and Crown | A2 |
| That Crown suspended gems and ribands deck | B2 |
| A golden chain hangs o'er that furry neck | B2 |
| Unlike the nobler beast the Bear is bound | R |
| And with the Crown so near him scowls uncrown'd | R |
| Less his dominion but alert are all | C2 |
| Without within and ready for the call | C2 |
| Smart lads and light run nimbly here and there | Y |
| Nor for neglected duties mourns the Bear | Y |
| To his retreats on the Election day | R |
| The losing party found their silent way | R |
| There they partook of each consoling good | R |
| Like him uncrown'd like him in sullen mood | R |
| Threat'ning but bound Here meet a social kind | R |
| Our various clubs for various cause combined | R |
| Nor has he pride but thankful takes as gain | X |
| The dew drops shaken from the Lion's mane | X |
| A thriving couple here their skill display | R |
| And share the profits of no vulgar sway | R |
| Third in our Borough's list appears the sign | S |
| Of a fair queen the gracious Caroline | S |
| But in decay each feature in the face | G |
| Has stain of Time and token of disgrace | G |
| The storm of winter and the summer sun | B |
| Have on that form their equal mischief done | B |
| The features now are all disfigured seen | D2 |
| And not one charm adorns th' insulted queen | D2 |
| To this poor face was never paint applied | R |
| Th' unseemly work of cruel Time to hide | R |
| Here we may rightly such neglect upbraid | R |
| Paint on such faces is by prudence laid | R |
| Large the domain but all within combine | S |
| To correspond with the dishonoured sign | S |
| And all around dilapidates you call | C2 |
| But none replies they're inattentive all | C2 |
| At length a ruin'd stable holds your steed | R |
| While you through large and dirty rooms proceed | R |
| Spacious and cold a proof they once had been | E2 |
| In honour now magnificently mean | D2 |
| Till in some small half furnish'd room you rest | R |
| Whose dying fire denotes it had a guest | R |
| In those you pass'd where former splendour | Y |
| - | |
| reign'd | R |
| You saw the carpets torn the paper stain'd | R |
| Squares of discordant glass in windows fix'd | R |
| And paper oil'd in many a space betwixt | R |
| A soil'd and broken sconce a mirror crack'd | R |
| With table underpropp'd and chairs new back'd | R |
| A marble side slab with ten thousand stains | G |
| And all an ancient Tavern's poor remains | G |
| With much entreaty they your food prepare | Y |
| And acid wine afford with meagre fare | Y |
| Heartless you sup and when a dozen times | G |
| You've read the fractured window's senseless | G |
| - | |
| rhymes | G |
| Have been assured that Phoebe Green was fair | Y |
| And Peter Jackson took his supper there | Y |
| You reach a chilling chamber where you dread | R |
| Damps hot or cold from a tremendous bed | R |
| Late comes your sleep and you are waken'd soon | F2 |
| By rustling tatters of the old festoon | F2 |
| O'er this large building thus by time defaced | R |
| A servile couple has its owner placed | R |
| Who not unmindful that its style is large | G2 |
| To lost magnificence adapt their charge | G2 |
| Thus an old beauty who has long declined | R |
| Keeps former dues and dignity in mind | R |
| And wills that all attention should be paid | R |
| For graces vanish'd and for charms decay'd | R |
| Few years have pass'd since brightly 'cross the | Z |
| - | |
| way | R |
| Lights from each window shot the lengthen'd ray | R |
| And busy looks in every face were seen | D2 |
| Through the warm precincts of the reigning Queen | D2 |
| There fires inviting blazed and all around | R |
| Was heard the tinkling bells' seducing sound | R |
| The nimble waiters to that sound from far | Y |
| Sprang to the call then hasteri'd to the bar | Y |
| Where a glad priestess of the temple sway'd | R |
| The most obedient and the most obey'd | R |
| Rosy and round adorn'd in crimson vest | R |
| And flaming ribands at her ample breast | R |
| She skill'd like Circe tried her guests to move | H2 |
| With looks of welcome and with words of love | I2 |
| And such her potent charms that men unwise | G |
| Were soon transform'd and fitted for the sties | G |
| Her port in bottles stood a well stain'd row | Y |
| Drawn for the evening from the pipe below | Y |
| Three powerful spirits filled a parted case | G |
| Some | O |
George Crabbe
(1)
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