The Rivals; Or The Showman's Ruse Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A B CD E F GHHIIG JKKLLMMNN GOOP GQRRJJSSJ GTTSU GSVW GXQIIY GGGZZA2A2JB2JJC2C2A2 A2D2D2MME2OA2A2E N| A TRAGI COMEDY IN ONE ACT | A |
| - | |
| PERSONS REPRESENTED | B |
| - | |
| BILLY MILLER The Rivals | C |
| JOHNNY WILLIAMS | D |
| - | |
| TOMMY WELLS Conspirator | E |
| - | |
| TIME Noon SCENE Country Town Rear view of the Miller Mansion showing Barn with practical loft window opening on alley way with colored crayon poster beneath announcing BILLY MILLER'S Big Show and Monstur Circus and Equareum A shour bath fer Each and All fer pins This Afternoon Don't fer git the date Enter TOMMY WELLS and JOHNNY WILLIAMS who gaze awhile at poster TOMMY secretly smiling and winking at BILLY MILLER concealed at loft window above | F |
| - | |
| TOMMY to JOHNNY | G |
| Guess 'at Billy haint got back | H |
| Can't see nothin' through the crack | H |
| Can't hear nothin' neither No | I |
| Thinks he's got the dandy show | I |
| Don't he | G |
| - | |
| JOHNNY scornfully | J |
| 'Course' but what I care | K |
| He haint got no show in there | K |
| What's he got in there but that | L |
| Old hen cooped up with a cat | L |
| An' a turkle an' that thing | M |
| 'At he calls his circus ring | M |
| What a circus ring I'd quit | N |
| Bet mine's twic't as big as it | N |
| - | |
| TOMMY | G |
| Yes but you got no machine | O |
| Wat you bathe with painted green | O |
| With a string to work it guess | P |
| - | |
| JOHNNY contemptuously | G |
| Folks don't bathe in circuses | Q |
| Ladies comes to mine you bet | R |
| I' got seats where girls can set | R |
| An' a dressin' room an' all | J |
| Fixed up in my pony's stall | J |
| Yes an' I' got carpet too | S |
| Fer the tumblers and a blue | S |
| Center pole | J |
| - | |
| TOMMY | G |
| Well Billy he's | T |
| Got a tight rope an' trapeze | T |
| An' a hoop 'at he jumps through | S |
| Head first | U |
| - | |
| JOHNNY | G |
| Well what's that to do | S |
| Lightin' on a pile o' hay | V |
| Haint no actin' thataway | W |
| - | |
| TOMMY | G |
| Don't care what you say he draws | X |
| Bigger crowds than you do 'cause | Q |
| Sense he started up I know | I |
| All the fellers says his show | I |
| Is the best un | Y |
| - | |
| JOHNNY | G |
| Yes an' he | G |
| Better not tell things on me | G |
| His old circus haint no good | Z |
| 'Cause he's got the neighborhood | Z |
| Down on me he thinks 'at I'm | A2 |
| Goin' to stand it all the time | A2 |
| Thinks ist 'cause my Pa don't 'low | J |
| Me to fight he's got me now | B2 |
| An' can say I lie an' call | J |
| Me ist anything at all | J |
| Billy Miller thinks I am | C2 |
| 'Feared to say 'at he says dam | C2 |
| Yes and worser ones and I'm | A2 |
| Goin' to tell his folks sometime | A2 |
| An' ef he don't shet his head | D2 |
| I'll tell worse 'an that he said | D2 |
| When he fighted Willie King | M |
| An' got licked like ever'thing | M |
| Billy Miller better shin | E2 |
| Down his Daddy's lane agin | O |
| Like a cowardy calf an' climb | A2 |
| In fer home another time | A2 |
| Better | E |
| - | |
| Here BILLY leaps down from the loft upon his unsuspecting victim and two minutes later JOHNNY with the half of a straw hat a bleeding nose and a straight rent across one trouser knee makes his inglorious exit | N |
James Whitcomb Riley
(1)
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