The Case Of Conscience Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCC DDEE FFGGHIJJ FFFFFFKKLM NNFFOOFFFFFFFFPP QQFFRRSSFFTTFF FFPPUU FFVVFFFF FF WWCC XXII YYPPFFFFZRFFA2A2 FFFFFFFF IIB2B2FFFFFFFFFFPPFF FF FFC2C2FFFFD2D2FFYYE2 E2F2F2 FF| THOSE who in fables deal bestow at ease | A |
| Both names and titles freely as they please | A |
| It costs them scarcely any thing we find | B |
| And each is nymph or shepherdess designed | B |
| Some e'en are goddesses that move below | C |
| From whom celestial bliss of course must flow | C |
| - | |
| THIS Horace followed with superior art | D |
| If to the trav'ller's bed with throbbing heart | D |
| The chambermaid approached 'twas Ilia found | E |
| Or fair Egeria or some nymph renowned | E |
| - | |
| GOD in his goodness made one lovely day | F |
| Apollo who directs the lyrick lay | F |
| And gave him pow'rs to call and name at will | G |
| Like father Adam with primordial skill | G |
| Said he go names bestow that please the ear | H |
| In ev'ry word let sweetest sound appear | I |
| This ancient law then proves by right divine | J |
| WE oft are sponsors to the royal line | J |
| - | |
| WHEN pleasing tales and fables I endite | F |
| I who in humble verse presume to write | F |
| May surely use this privilege of old | F |
| And to my fancy appellations mould | F |
| If I instead of Anne should Sylvia say | F |
| And Master Thomas when the case I weigh | F |
| Should change to Adamas the druid sage | K |
| Must I a fine or punishment engage | K |
| No surely not at present I shall choose | L |
| Anne and the Parson for my tale to use | M |
| - | |
| WITHIN her village Anne was thought the belle | N |
| And ev'ry other charmer to excel | N |
| As near a river once she chanced to stray | F |
| She saw a youth in Nature's pure array | F |
| Who bathed at ease within the gliding stream | O |
| The girl was brisk and worthy of esteem | O |
| Her eyes were pleased the object gave delight | F |
| Not one defect could be produced in sight | F |
| Already by the shepherdess adored | F |
| If with the belle to pleasing flights he'd soared | F |
| The god of love had all they wished concealed | F |
| None better know what should not be revealed | F |
| Anne nothing feared the willows were her shade | F |
| Which like Venetian blinds a cov'ring made | F |
| Her eyes howe'er across had easy view | P |
| And o'er the youth each beauty could pursue | P |
| - | |
| SHE back four paces drew at first through shame | Q |
| Then led by LOVE eight others forward came | Q |
| But scruples still arose that ardour foiled | F |
| And nearly ey'ry thing had truly spoiled | F |
| Anne had a conscience pure as holy fire | R |
| But how could she abstain from soft desire | R |
| If in the bosom chance a flame should raise | S |
| Is there a pow'r can then subdue the blaze | S |
| At first these inclinations she withstood | F |
| But doubting soon how those of flesh and blood | F |
| Could sins commit by stepping in advance | T |
| She took her seat upon the green expanse | T |
| And there attentively the lad observed | F |
| With eyes that scarcely from him ever swerved | F |
| - | |
| PERHAPS you've seen from Nature drawings made | F |
| Some Eve or Adam artists then persuade | F |
| In birth attire to stand within their view | P |
| While they with care and taste each trait pursue | P |
| And like our shepherdess their stations take | U |
| A perfect semblance ev'ry way to make | U |
| - | |
| ANNE in her mem'ry now his image placed | F |
| Each line and feature thoroughly she traced | F |
| And even now the fair would there remain | V |
| If William so was called this youthful swain | V |
| Had not the water left when she retired | F |
| Though scarcely twenty steps from him admired | F |
| Who more alert than usual then appeared | F |
| And by the belle in silence was revered | F |
| - | |
| WHEN such sensations once were in the breast | F |
| Love there we may believe would hardly rest | F |
| - | |
| THE favours Anne reserved he thought his own | W |
| Though expectations oft away have flown | W |
| The more of this I think the less I know | C |
| Perhaps one half our bliss to chance we owe | C |
| - | |
| BE this as 'twill the conscientious Anne | X |
| Would nothing venture to regale her man | X |
| Howe'er she stated what had raised her fear | I |
| And ev'ry thing that made her persevere | I |
| - | |
| WHEN Easter came new difficulties rose | Y |
| Then in confession ALL she should disclose | Y |
| Anne passing peccadillos in review | P |
| This case aside as an intruder threw | P |
| But parson Thomas made her all relate | F |
| And ev'ry circumstance most clearly state | F |
| That he by knowing fully each defect | F |
| Might punishment accordingly direct | F |
| In which no father confessor should err | Z |
| Who absolution justly would confer | R |
| The parson much his penitent abused | F |
| Said he with sensual views to be amused | F |
| Is such a sin 'tis scarcely worse to steal | A2 |
| The sight is just the same as if you feel | A2 |
| - | |
| HOWE'ER the punishment that he imposed | F |
| Was nothing great too slight to be disclosed | F |
| Enough to say that in the country round | F |
| The father confessors who there abound | F |
| As in our own perhaps in ev'ry part | F |
| Have devotees who when they ought to smart | F |
| A tribute pay according to their lot | F |
| And thus indulgences are often got | F |
| - | |
| THIS tribute to discharge the current year | I |
| Much troubled Anne and filled her breast with fear | I |
| When William fishing chanced a pike to hook | B2 |
| And gave it to his dear at once to cook | B2 |
| Who quite delighted hastened to the priest | F |
| And begged his rev'rence on the fish to feast | F |
| The parson with the present much was pleased | F |
| A tap upon the shoulder care appeased | F |
| And with a smile he to the bringer said | F |
| This fish with trifles on the table spread | F |
| Will all complete 'twas holyday we find | F |
| When other clergy with our rector dined | F |
| Will you still more oblige the parson cried | F |
| And let the fish at home by you be fried | F |
| Then bring it here my servant's very new | P |
| And can't attempt to cook as well as you | P |
| Anne hastened back meanwhile the priests arrived | F |
| Much noise and rout of course once these were hived | F |
| Wines from the vault were brought without delay | F |
| Each of the quality would something say | F |
| - | |
| THE dinner served the dean at table placed | F |
| Their conversation various points embraced | F |
| To state the whole would clearly endless be | C2 |
| In this no doubt the reader will agree | C2 |
| They changed and changed and healths went round and round | F |
| No time for scandal while such cheer was found | F |
| The first and second course away were cleared | F |
| Dessert served up yet still no pike appeared | F |
| The dinner o'er without th' expected dish | D2 |
| Or even a shadow of the promised fish | D2 |
| When William learned the present Anne had made | F |
| His wish to have it cancelled with her weighed | F |
| The rector was surprised you may suppose | Y |
| And soon as from the table all arose | Y |
| He went to Anne and called her fool and knave | E2 |
| And in his wrath could scarcely secrets wave | E2 |
| But nearly her reproached the bathing scene | F2 |
| What treat said he your priest like base and mean | F2 |
| - | |
| ANNE archly answered with expression neat | F |
| The sight is just the same as if you eat | F |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
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