The Parish Register - Part Iii: Burials Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIBJJ KKDDIILLMMNNOPQQJREE SSTTURVVWWXXYYTRLLZZ A2A2SSB2B2C2C2D2D2E2 E2EEF2F2G2G2EEZZH2I2 H2K J2J2K2K2L2L2G M2M2L2L2N2N2ZZO2O2TV TP2 K2K2Q2Q2R2S2 T2U2 K2K2ZZV2V2W2W2L2L2H X2X2Y2Y2Q2Q2LLX2X2Z2 M2A3A3B3B3C3C3KD3E3E 3SSF3F3G3G3H3H3O2O2I 3I3J3J3R2R2K3L3W2W2Q QM3 V2V2N3N3Y

THERE was 'tis said and I believe a timeA
When humble Christians died with views sublimeA
When all were ready for their faith to bleedB
But few to write or wrangle for their creedB
When lively Faith upheld the sinking heartC
And friends assured to meet prepared to partC
When Love felt hope when Sorrow grew sereneD
And all was comfort in the death bed sceneD
Alas when now the gloomy king they waitE
'Tis weakness yielding to resistless fateE
Like wretched men upon the ocean castF
They labour hard and struggle to the lastF
'Hope against hope ' and wildly gaze aroundG
In search of help that never shall be foundG
Nor till the last strong billow stops the breathH
Will they believe them in the jaws of DeathH
When these my Records I reflecting readI
And find what ills these numerous births succeedB
What powerful griefs these nuptial ties attendJ
With what regret these painful journeys endJ
When from the cradle to the grave I lookK
Mine I conceive a melancholy bookK
Where now is perfect resignation seenD
Alas it is not on the village greenD
I've seldom known though I have often readI
Of happy peasants on their dying bedI
Whose looks proclaimed that sunshine of the breastL
That more than hope that Heaven itself express'dL
What I behold are feverish fits of strifeM
'Twixt fears of dying and desire of lifeM
Those earthly hopes that to the last endureN
Those fears that hopes superior fail to cureN
At best a sad submission to the doomO
Which turning from the danger lets it comeP
Sick lies the man bewilder'd lost afraidQ
His spirits vanquish'd and his strength decay'dQ
No hope the friend the nurse the doctor lendJ
'Call then a priest and fit him for his end 'R
A priest is call'd 'tis now alas too lateE
Death enters with him at the cottage gateE
Or time allow'd he goes assured to findS
The self commending all confiding mindS
And sighs to hear what we may justly callT
Death's common place the train of thought in allT
'True I'm a sinner ' feebly he beginsU
'But trust in Mercy to forgive my sins 'R
Such cool confession no past crimes exciteV
Such claim on Mercy seems the sinner's rightV
'I know mankind are frail that God is justW
And pardons those who in his Mercy trustW
We're sorely tempted in a world like thisX
All men have done and I like all amissX
But now if spared it is my full intentY
On all the past to ponder and repentY
Wrongs against me I pardon great and smallT
And if I die I die in peace with all 'R
His merits thus and not his sins confess'dL
He speaks his hopes and leaves to Heaven the restL
Alas are these the prospects dull and coldZ
That dying Christians to their priests unfoldZ
Or mends the prospect when th' enthusiast criesA2
'I die assured ' and in a rapture diesA2
Ah where that humble self abasing mindS
With that confiding spirit shall we findS
The mind that feeling what repentance bringsB2
Dejection's terrors and Contrition's stingsB2
Feels then the hope that mounts all care aboveC2
And the pure joy that flows from pardoning loveC2
Such have I seen in Death and much deploreD2
So many dying that I see no moreD2
Lo now my Records where I grieve to traceE2
How Death has triumph'd in so short a spaceE2
Who are the dead how died they I relateE
And snatch some portion of their acts from fateE
With Andrew Collett we the year beginF2
The blind fat landlord of the Old Crown InnF2
Big as his butt and for the selfsame useG2
To take in stores of strong fermenting juiceG2
On his huge chair beside the fire he sateE
In revel chief and umpire in debateE
Each night his string of vulgar tales he toldZ
When ale was cheap and bachelors were boldZ
His heroes all were famous in their daysH2
Cheats were his boast and drunkards had hisI2
-
praiseH2
'One in three draughts three mugs of ale tookK
-
downJ2
As mugs were then the champion of the CrownJ2
For thrice three days another lived on aleK2
And knew no change but that of mild and staleK2
Two thirsty soakers watch'd a vessel's sideL2
When he the tap with dext'rous hand appliedL2
Nor from their seats departed till they foundG
That butt was out and heard the mournful sound '-
He praised a poacher precious child of funM2
Who shot the keeper with his own spring gunM2
Nor less the smuggler who th' exciseman tiedL2
And left him hanging at the birch wood sideL2
There to expire but one who saw him hangN2
Cut the good cord a traitor of the gangN2
His own exploits with boastful glee he toldZ
What ponds he emptied and what pikes he soldZ
And how when blest with sight alert and gayO2
The night's amusements kept him through the dayO2
He sang the praises of those times when allT
'For cards and dice as for their drink mightV
-
callT
When justice wink'd on every jovial crewP2
And ten pins tumbled in the parson's view '-
He told when angry wives provoked to railK2
Or drive a third day drunkard from his aleK2
What were his triumphs and how great the skillQ2
That won the vex'd virago to his willQ2
Who raving came then talked in milder strainR2
Then wept then drank and pledged her spouseS2
-
againT2
Such were his themes how knaves o'er lawsU2
-
prevailK2
Or when made captives how they fly from jailK2
The young how brave how subtle were the oldZ
And oaths attested all that Folly toldZ
On death like his what name shall we bestowV2
So very sudden yet so very slowV2
'Twas slow Disease augmenting year by yearW2
Show'd the grim king by gradual steps brought nearW2
'Twas not less sudden in the night he diedL2
He drank he swore he jested and he liedL2
Thus aiding folly with departing breathH
'Beware Lorenzo the slow sudden death '-
Next died the Widow Goe an active dameX2
Famed ten miles round and worthy all her fameX2
She lost her husband when their loves were youngY2
But kept her farm her credit and her tongueY2
Full thirty years she ruled with matchless skillQ2
With guiding judgment and resistless willQ2
Advice she scorn'd rebellions she suppress'dL
And sons and servants bow'd at her behestL
Like that great man's who to his Saviour cameX2
Were the strong words of this commanding dameX2
'Come ' if she said they came if 'Go ' were goneZ2
And if 'Do this ' that instant it was doneM2
Her maidens told she was all eye and earA3
In darkness saw and could at distance hearA3
No parish business in the place could stirB3
Without direction or assent from herB3
In turn she took each office as it fellC3
Knew all their duties and discharged them wellC3
The lazy vagrants in her presence shookK
And pregnant damsels fear'd her stern rebukeD3
She look'd on want with judgment clear and coolE3
And felt with reason and bestow'd by ruleE3
She match'd both sons and daughters to her mindS
And lent them eyes for Love she heard was blindS
Yet ceaseless still she throve alert aliveF3
The working bee in full or empty hiveF3
Busy and careful like that working beeG3
No time for love nor tender cares had sheG3
But when our farmers made their amorous vowsH3
She talk'd of market steeds and patent ploughsH3
Not unemploy'd her evenings pass'd awayO2
Amusement closed as business waked the dayO2
When to her toilet's brief concern she ranI3
And conversation with her friends beganI3
Who all were welcome what they saw to shareJ3
And joyous neighbours praised her Christmas fareJ3
That none around might in their scorn complainR2
Of Gossip Goe as greedy in her gainR2
Thus long she reign'd admired if not approvedK3
Praised if not honour'd fear'd if not belovedL3
When as the busy days of Spring drew nearW2
That call'd for all the forecast of the yearW2
When lively hope the rising crops surveyedQ
And April promised what September paidQ
When stray'd her lambs where gorse and greenwoodM3
-
growV2
When rose her grass in richer vales belowV2
When pleased she look'd on all the smiling landN3
And view'd the hinds who wrought at her commandN3
Poultry in groups still follow'd where she wentY
Th-

George Crabbe



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