The Crane & The Fox, A Fable Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABCDDEEFFGGHHGGII JJKK LCCMMNO PQMMMMGG MMJJRRMMSSTT MMMMMMMMUUGGMMTTVV MMFF M| In long gone years a fox and crane | A |
| Were bound in friendship's golden chain | A |
| Whene'er they met the fox would bow | B |
| And madame Crane would curtsie low | C |
| My lovely Crane how do you do | D |
| I'm very well pray how are you | D |
| Thus time passed on both very civil | E |
| Till Reynard in an hour evil | E |
| Projected what he thought a stroke | F |
| The world would call a pretty joke | F |
| A billet wrote on gilded paper | G |
| And sealed it with a perfumed wafer | G |
| Announced the day if she saw fit | H |
| To take a tete a tetetit bit | H |
| The day arriv'd she preen'd each feather | G |
| And summon'd ev'ry grace together | G |
| At breakfast scarce a morsel eat | I |
| Intent to riot at the treat | I |
| - | |
| She came wide stood the unfolded door | J |
| And roses deck'd the sanded floor | J |
| There hyacinths in festoons hung | K |
| Here lillies their rich fragrance flung | K |
| - | |
| The table drawn the damask laid | L |
| And soup prepared of bullock's marrow | C |
| Pour'd in each plate profuse but shallow | C |
| The fox began to lap in haste | M |
| And made a plentiful repast | M |
| Pressed his fair friend to do the same | N |
| And to encourage lap'd again | O |
| - | |
| The Crane be sure with her long beak | P |
| Could not a single morsel pick | Q |
| She felt the bite but little said | M |
| And very soon her exit made | M |
| Just beg'd the fox would come next day | M |
| And sup with her in her plain way | M |
| Reynard declared she did him honor | G |
| He certainly would wait upon her | G |
| - | |
| Her domicile was well prepar'd | M |
| No cost or labor had been spared | M |
| Roses and tulips on the floor | J |
| And daffodils the ceiling bore | J |
| Nor was a band of music wanting | R |
| For whippoorwills and frogs were chanting | R |
| The sun had set and given way | M |
| To sober evening's mantle gray | M |
| The fox arriv'd with stomach keen | S |
| Hoped he saw in health his Queen | S |
| And added in his courtliest air | T |
| She ne'er before had look'd so fair | T |
| - | |
| The Crane replied in mildest mood | M |
| That all he said was very good | M |
| She meekly meant to do her duty | M |
| And ne'er dream'd of praise or beauty | M |
| She spoke The table soon was spread | M |
| And ev'rything in order paid | M |
| Two narrow jars now graced the board | M |
| With nicely minced ven'son stored | M |
| Now let's fall to sir if you will | U |
| And in she pok'd her slender bill | U |
| And gulp'd of viands at her leisure | G |
| To see you eat would give me pleasure | G |
| She cried eat neighbor eat | M |
| I fear you do not like my treat | M |
| It suits my palate to a hair | T |
| Pray Chummy eat and do not spare | T |
| The fox looked on with rueful phys | V |
| Feeling in all its force the quiz | V |
| - | |
| The Crane enjoy'd his discontent | M |
| And thus address'd him as he went | M |
| The truest adage ever spoke | F |
| Was He that Gives must Take a joke | F |
| - | |
| - | |
| H L to his beloved daughter Jane Feb | M |
Henry Livingston Jr.
(1)
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