The Ear-maker And The Mould-mender Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEE FFGGHH IIJKLLMNBBOOAAPPQQRR SSTTUUCCVVWWXXYYDDZZ JA2QQWWB2B2C2C2D2D2O OMME2F2 BBG2G2NNH2H2WW I2I2J2J2K2K2L2L2CCM2 M2OON2O2P2Q2 ZZR2R2S2S2T2T2K2K2CC S2S2U2U2VVJJFF BBV2V2W2W2X2X2Y2Y2 J2J2Z2Z2A3A3B3B3C3C3 D3D3OO WWE3E3Q2Q2I2I2F3F3TT QQG3H3K2K2I3I3CCM2M2 Z2Z2J3J3C3C3K3K3L3L3

WHEN William went from home a trader styledA
Six months his better half he left with childA
A simple comely modest youthful dameB
Whose name was Alice from Champaign she cameB
Her neighbour Andrew visits now would payC
With what intention needless 'tis to sayC
A master who but rarely spread his netD
But first or last with full success he metD
And cunning was the bird that 'scaped his snareE
Without surrendering a feather thereE
-
QUITE raw was Alice for his purpose fitF
Not overburdened with a store of witF
Of this indeed she could not be accusedG
And Cupid's wiles by her were never usedG
Poor lady all with her was honest partH
And naught she knew of stratagem or artH
-
HER husband then away and she aloneI
This neighbour came and in a whining toneI
To her observed when compliments were o'erJ
I'm all astonishment and you deploreK
To find that neighbour William's gone from henceL
And left your child's completing in suspenseL
Which now you bear within and much I fearM
That when 'tis born you'll find it wants an earN
Your looks sufficiently the fact proclaimB
For many instances I've known the sameB
Good heav'ns replied the lady in a frightO
What say you pray the infant won't be rightO
Shall I be mother to a one eared childA
And know you no relief that's certain styledA
Oh yes there is rejoined the crafty knaveP
From such mishap I can the baby saveP
Yet solemnly I vow for none but youQ
I'd undertake the toilsome job to doQ
The ills of others if I may be plainR
Except your husband's never give me painR
But him I'd serve for ever while I've breathS
To do him good I'd e'en encounter deathS
Now let us see without more talk or fearsT
If I know how to forge the bantling earsT
Remember cried the wife to make them likeU
Leave that to me said he I'll justly strikeU
Then he prepared for work the dame gave wayC
Not difficult she proved well pleased she layC
Philosophy was never less requiredV
And Andrew's process much the fair admiredV
Who to his work extreme attention paidW
'Twas now a tendon then a fold he madeW
Or cartilage of which he formed enoughX
And all without complaining of the stuffX
To morrow we will polish it said heY
Then in perfection soon the whole will beY
And from repeating this so oft you'll getD
As perfect issue as was ever metD
I'm much obliged to you the wife repliedZ
A friend is good in whom we may confideZ
-
NEXT day when tardy Time had marked the hourJ
That Andrew hoped again to use his pow'rA2
He was not plunged in sleep but briskly flewQ
His purpose with the charmer to pursueQ
Said he all other things aside I've laidW
This ear to finish and to lend you aidW
And I the dame replied was on the eveB2
To send and beg you not the job to leaveB2
Above stairs let us go away they ranC2
And quickly recommenced as they beganC2
The work so oft was smoothed that Alice showedD2
Some scruples lest the ear he had bestowedD2
Should do too much and to the wily wightO
She said so little you the labour slightO
'Twere well if ears no more than two appearM
Of that rejoined the other never fearM
I've guarded thoroughly against defectsE2
Mistake like that shall ne'er your senses vexF2
-
THE ear howe'er was still in hand the sameB
When from his journey home the husband cameB
Saluted Alice who with anxious lookG2
Exclaimed your work how finely you forsookG2
And but for neighbour Andrew's kindness hereN
Our child would incomplete have been an earN
I could not let a thing remain like thisH2
And Andrew would not be to friends remissH2
But worthy man he left his thriving tradeW
And for the babe a proper ear has madeW
-
THE husband not conceiving how his wifeI2
Could be so weak and ignorant of lifeI2
The circumstances made her fully tellJ2
Repeat them o'er and on each action dwellJ2
Enraged at length a pistol by the bedK2
He seized and swore at once he'd shoot her deadK2
The belle with tears replied howe'er she'd swervedL2
Such cruel treatment never she deservedL2
Her innocence and simple gentle wayC
At length appeared his frantick rage to layC
What injury continued she is doneM2
The strictest scrutiny I would not shunM2
Your goods and money ev'ry thing is rightO
And Andrew told me nothing he would slightO
That you would find much more than you could wantN2
And this I hope to me you'll freely grantO2
If falsehood I advance my life I'll loseP2
Your equity I trust will me excuseQ2
-
A LITTLE cooled then William thus repliedZ
We'll say no more you have been drawn asideZ
What passed you fancied acting for the bestR2
And I'll consent to put the thing at restR2
To nothing good such altercations tendS2
I've but a word to that attention lendS2
Contrive to morrow that I here entrapT2
This fellow who has caused your sad mishapT2
You'll utter not a word of what I've saidK2
Be secret or at once I'll strike you deadK2
Adroitly you must act for instance sayC
I'm on a second journey gone awayC
A message or a letter to him sendS2
Soliciting that he'll on you attendS2
That something you have got to let him knowU2
To come no doubt the rascal won't be slowU2
Amuse him then with converse most absurdV
But of the EAR remember not a wordV
That's finished now and nothing can requireJ
You'll carefully perform what I desireJ
Poor innocent the point she nicely hitF
Fear oft gives simpletons a sort of witF
-
THE arch gallant arrived the husband cameB
Ascended to the room where sat his dameB
Much noise he made his coming to announceV2
The lover terrified began to bounceV2
Now here now there no shelter could he meetW2
Between the bed and wall he put his feetW2
And lay concealed while William loudly knockedX2
Fair Alice readily the door unlockedX2
And pointing with her hand informed the spouseY2
Where he might easily his rival rouseY2
-
THE husband ev'ry way was armed so wellJ2
He four such men as Andrew could repelJ2
In quest of succour howsoe'er he wentZ2
To kill him surely William never meantZ2
But only take an ear or what the TurksA3
Those savage beasts cut off from Nature's worksA3
Which doubtless must be infinitely worseB3
Infernal practice and continual curseB3
'Twas this he whispered should be Andrew's doomC3
When with his easy wife he left the roomC3
She nothing durst reply the door he shutD3
And our gallant 'gan presently to strutD3
Around and round believing all was rightO
And William unacquainted with his plightO
-
THE latter having well the project weighedW
Now changed his plan and other schemes surveyedW
Proposed within himself revenge to takeE3
With less parade less noise it then would makeE3
And better fruit the action would produceQ2
Than if he were apparently profuseQ2
Said he to Alice go and seek his wifeI2
To her relate the whole that caused our strifeI2
Minutely all from first to last detailF3
And then the better on her to prevailF3
To hasten here you'll hint that you have fearsT
That Andrew risks the loss of more than earsT
For I have punishment severe in viewQ
Which greatly she must wish I should not doQ
But if an ear maker like this is caughtG3
The worst of chastisement is always soughtH3
Such horrid things as scarcely can be saidK2
They make the hair to stand upon the headK2
That he's upon the point of suff'ring straightI3
And only for her presence things awaitI3
That though she cannot all proceedings stayC
Perhaps she may some portion take awayC
Go bring her instantly haste quickly runM2
And if she comes I'll pardon what's been doneM2
-
WITH joy to Andrew's house fair Alice wentZ2
The wife to follow her appeared contentZ2
Quite out of breath alone she ran up stairsJ3
And not perceiving him who shared her caresJ3
Believed he was imprisoned in a roomC3
And while with fear she trembled for his doomC3
The master having laid aside his armsK3
Now came to compliment the lady's charmsK3
He gave the belle a chair who looked most niceL3
Said he ingratitude's the worst of viceL3

Jean De La Fontaine



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