The Cradle Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEE BBFFGGHHIIJJ KKLLMMNNOOPP QQRRMMNN SSTTNNNNNNUUDDMMVWXX YYZZA2A2A2A2B2D C2C2A2A2A2A2NNA2A2 BBNNLLA2A2 JJA2A2D2D2A2A2E2E2F2 F2 A2A2BBG2G2 A2A2A2A2 NNNNA2A2NNA2A2A2A2H2 H2HH I2I2J2J2A2A2 NNA2A2K2K2NNL2L2A2A2 A2A2 BBA2A2A2A2A2A2M2M2N2 N2F2F2TTO2O2A2A2E2P2 A2A2A2A2Q2Q2A2A2 A2A2

NEAR Rome of yore close to the Florence roadA
Was seen a humble innkeeper's abodeA
Small sums were charged few guests the night would stayB
And these could seldom much afford to payB
A pleasing active partner had the hostC
Her age not much 'bove thirty at the mostC
Two children she her loving husband boreD
The boy was one year old the daughter moreD
Just fifteen summers o'er her form had smiledE
In person charming and in temper mildE
-
IT happened that Pinucio young and gayB
A youth of family oft passed the wayB
Admired the girl and thought she might be gainedF
Attentions showed and like return obtainedF
The mistress was not deaf nor lover muteG
Pinucio seemed the lady's taste to suitG
Of pleasing person and engaging airH
And 'mong the equals of our youthful fairH
As yet not one a pref'rence had receivedI
Nor had she e'er in golden dreams believedI
But spite of tender years her mind was highJ
And village lads she would not let come nighJ
-
COLUTTA such her name though much admiredK
And many in the place her hand desiredK
Rejected some and others would not takeL
And this most clearly for Pinucio's sakeL
Long conversations she could rarely getM
And various obstacles the lovers metM
No interviews where they might be at easeN
But ev'ry thing conspired to fret and teazeN
O parents husbands be advised by meO
Constraint with wives or children won't agreeO
'Tis then the god of love exerts his artP
To find admittance to the throbbing heartP
-
PINUCIO and a friend one stormy nightQ
The landlord's reached and would in haste alightQ
They asked for beds but were too late they foundR
You know sir cried the host we don't aboundR
And now the very garrets we have letM
You'd better elsewhere try your wish to getM
And spite of weather further on pursueN
At best our lodging is unfit for youN
-
HAVE you no truckle bed the lover criedS
No corner left we fain would here abideS
Why truly said the host we always keepT
Two beds within the chamber where we sleepT
My wife and I of course take one of theseN
Together lie in t'other if you pleaseN
The spark replied this we will gladly doN
Come supper get that o'er the friends withdrewN
Pinucio by Coletta's sage adviceN
In looking o'er the room was very niceN
With eagle eyes particulars he tracedU
Then 'tween the clothes himself and friend he placedU
A camp bed for the girl was on the floorD
The landlord's 'gainst the wall and next the doorD
Another opposite the last was setM
And this to guests at certain times was letM
And 'tween the two but near the parents' bestV
A cradle for the child to rest its headW
From which a pleasant accident arrivedX
That our gallant's young friend of rest deprivedX
-
WHEN midnight came and this gay spark supposedY
The host and hostess' eyes in sleep were closedY
Convinced the time appointed was at handZ
To put in execution what was plannedZ
He to the camp bed silently repairedA2
And found the belle by Morpheus not insnaredA2
Coletta taught a play that mortals findA2
Fatigues the body more than plagues the mindA2
A truce succeeded but 'twas quickly o'erB2
Those rest not long who pilfer Cupid's storeD
-
AGAIN when to the room the hostess cameC2
And found the cradle rested not the sameC2
Good heav'ns cried she it joins my husband's headA2
And but for that I truly had been ledA2
To lay myself unthinkingly besideA2
The strangers whom with lodging we provideA2
But God be praised this cradle shows the placeN
Where my good husband's pillow I must traceN
This said she with the friend was quickly laidA2
Without suspecting what mistake she'd madeA2
-
BETWEEN the lovers all was blithe and gayB
When suddenly the friend though far from dayB
Was forced to rise 'twas plain a pressing caseN
And move the infant's cradle from its placeN
To ope the door and lest he noise might makeL
Or any way by chance the child should wakeL
He set it carefully beside his bedA2
And softly treading to the garden spedA2
-
ON his return he passed the cradle byJ
To place it as before he would not tryJ
But went to sleep when presently a soundA2
From something that had tumbled rang aroundA2
Awoke his wife who ran belowD2
That what had happened she might clearly knowD2
No fool in such adventures was our WightA2
The opportunity he would not slightA2
But played the husband well no no I'm wrongE2
He played it ill too oft too much too longE2
For whosoe'er would wish to do it wellF2
Should softly go the gentle most excelF2
-
IN truth the wife was quite surprised to findA2
Her spouse so much to frolicking inclinedA2
Said she what ails the man he's grown so gayB
A lad of twenty's not more fond of playB
Well let's enjoy the moments while we canG2
God's will be done since life is but a spanG2
-
THE words were scarcely said when our gallantA2
Renewed his fun and nothing seemed to wantA2
Indeed the hostess still her charms possessedA2
And on occasion well might be caressedA2
-
MEANWHILE Coletta dreading a surpriseN
Prevailed upon her paramour to riseN
'Twas nearly break of day when he withdrewN
But groping to his place the way anewN
Pinucio by the cradle too was ledA2
To miss his friend's and take the landlord's bedA2
No sooner in than with an under voiceN
Intriguers oft too eagerly rejoiceN
Said he my friend I wish I could relateA2
The pleasure I've received my bliss is greatA2
To you I'm sorry Fortune proves so coldA2
Like happiness I'd fain in you beholdA2
Coletta is a morsel for a kingH2
Inestimable girl to me she'll clingH2
I've many seen but such a charming fairH
There's not another like her any whereH
-
WITH softest skin delightful form and mienI2
Her ev'ry act resembles BEAUTY's queenI2
In short before we'd ended with our funJ2
Six posts without a fiction we had runJ2
The host was struck with what the spark averredA2
And muttered something indistinctly heardA2
-
THE hostess whispered HIM she thought her spouseN
Again my dear such sparks let's never houseN
Pray don't you hear how they together chatA2
Just then the husband raised himself and satA2
Is this your plan said he with mighty rageK2
Was it for THIS you would my house engageK2
You understand me but I'll seek redressN
Think you so very cheap to have successN
What would you ruin families at willL2
And with our daughters take at ease your fillL2
Away I say my house this moment quitA2
And as for You abominable chitA2
I'll have your life this hour you breathe your lastA2
Such creatures only can with beasts be classedA2
-
PINUCIO heard the lecture with dismayB
At once was mute and grew as cold as clayB
A moment's silence through the room prevailedA2
Coletta trembled and her lot bewailedA2
The hostess now on ev'ry side perceivedA2
Her peril great and for the error grievedA2
The friend howe'er the cradle called to mindA2
Which caused the many ills we've seen combinedA2
And instantly he cried Pinucio strangeM2
You thus allow yourself about to rangeM2
Did I not tell you when the wine you tookN2
'Twould make many sad misfortunes hookN2
Whene'er you freely drink 'tis known fall wellF2
Your sleep's disturbed you walk and nonsense tellF2
Come come to bed the morning soon will peepT
Pinucio took the hint pretended sleepT
And carried on so artfully the wileO2
The husband no suspicion had of guileO2
The stratagem our hostess likewise triedA2
And to her daughter's bed in silence hiedA2
Where she conceived her fortress was so strongE2
She presently began to use her tongueP2
And cried aloud Impossible the factA2
Such things he could not with Coletta actA2
I've with her been in bed throughout the nightA2
And she no more than I has swerved from rightA2
'Twere mighty pretty truly here to comeQ2
At this the host a little while was dumbQ2
But in a lower tone at length repliedA2
I nought with your account I'm satisfiedA2
-
THE party rose the titter circled roundA2
And each sufficient reason for it foundA2

Jean De La Fontaine



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