The Bucking-tub Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFF GGHHIIJJKKLL MMNNOPQQ LLRR SSHHTTUUVVWWXXYYZA2 LLB2B2OO C2C2D2D2E2E2F2F2G2G2 H2H2I2I2J2J2 MMK2K2II| IF once in love you'll soon invention find | A |
| And not to cunning tricks and freaks be blind | A |
| The youngest 'prentice when he feels the dart | B |
| Grows wondrous shrewd and studies wily art | B |
| This passion never we perceive remains | C |
| In want from paucity of scheming brains | C |
| The god of hearts so well exerts his force | D |
| That he receives his dues as things of course | D |
| A bucking tub of which a tale is told | E |
| Will prove the case and this I'll now unfold | E |
| Particulars I heard some days ago | F |
| From one who seemed each circumstance to know | F |
| - | |
| WITHIN a country town no matter where | G |
| Its appellation nothing would declare | G |
| A cooper and his wife whose name was Nan | H |
| Kept house and through some difficulties ran | H |
| Though scanty were their means LOVE thither flew | I |
| And with him brought a friend to take a view | I |
| 'Twas Cuckoldom accompanied the boy | J |
| Two gods most intimate who like to toy | J |
| And never ceremonious seek to please | K |
| Go where they will still equally at ease | K |
| 'Tis all for them good lodging fare or bed | L |
| And hut or palace pleasantly they tread | L |
| - | |
| IT happened then a spark this fair caressed | M |
| And when he hoped most fully to be blessed | M |
| When all was ready to complete the scene | N |
| And on a point if naught should intervene | N |
| Not NAMED howe'er will quite enough suffice | O |
| When suddenly the husband by surprise | P |
| Returned from drinking at an ale house near | Q |
| just when just when the rest is pretty clear | Q |
| - | |
| THEY curst his coming trouble o'er them spread | L |
| Naught could be done but hide the lover's head | L |
| Beneath a bucking tub in utmost haste | R |
| Within the court our gay gallant was placed | R |
| - | |
| THE husband as he entered loudly cried | S |
| I've sold our bucking tub The wife replied | S |
| What price I pray Three crowns rejoined the man | H |
| Then thou'rt a silly ass said mistress Nan | H |
| To day by my address I've gained a crown | T |
| And sold the same for twenty shillings down | T |
| My bargain luckily the first was made | U |
| The buyer who of flaws is much afraid | U |
| Examines now if ev'ry part is tight | V |
| He's in the tub to see if all be right | V |
| What blockhead would'st thou do without thy wife | W |
| Thou huntest taverns while she works for life | W |
| But necessary 'tis for her to act | X |
| When thou art out or naught would be exact | X |
| No pleasure ever yet received have I | Y |
| But take my word to get it now I'll try | Y |
| Gallants are plenty husbands should have wives | Z |
| That like themselves lead gay or sober lives | A2 |
| - | |
| I PRYTHEE softly wife the husband said | L |
| Come come sir leave the tub there's naught to dread | L |
| When you are out I'll ev'ry quarter scrape | B2 |
| Then try if water from it can escape | B2 |
| I'll warrant it to be as good as nice | O |
| And nothing can be better worth the price | O |
| - | |
| OUT came the lover in the husband went | C2 |
| Scraped here and there and tried if any vent | C2 |
| With candle in his hand looked round and round | D2 |
| Not dreaming once that LOVE without was found | D2 |
| But nothing he could see of what was done | E2 |
| And while the cooper sought to overrun | E2 |
| The various parts and by the tub was hid | F2 |
| The gods already noticed thither slid | F2 |
| A job was by the deities proposed | G2 |
| That highly pleased the couple when disclosed | G2 |
| A very diff'rent work from what within | H2 |
| The husband had who scraped with horrid din | H2 |
| And rubbed and scrubbed and beat so very well | I2 |
| Fresh courage took our gay gallant and belle | I2 |
| They now resumed the thread so sadly lost | J2 |
| When by the cooper's coming all was crossed | J2 |
| - | |
| THE reader won't require to know the rest | M |
| What passed perhaps may easily be guessed | M |
| 'Tis quite enough my thesis I have proved | K2 |
| The artful trick our pair with raptures moved | K2 |
| Nor one nor t'other was a 'prentice new | I |
| A lover be and wiles you'll soon pursue | I |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Bucking-tub poem by Jean De La Fontaine
Best Poems of Jean De La Fontaine