The Indiscreet Confessions Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDD EEFFGG HHIJKKLLMMBBFFNNOO PPQQRRSS LLOOTTIIUU VVHHDD WWXXYZA2A2RB2C2C2D2D 2WWWW WWWWWWWWWWB2B2MM HHC2C2WWE2E2F2F2WWWW WWZYWW G2G2H2H2I2J2WWUUWWWW WWK2L2 M2M2FAMED Paris ne'er within its walls had got | A |
Such magick charms as were Aminta's lot | A |
Youth beauty temper fortune she possessed | B |
And all that should a husband render blessed | B |
The mother still retained her 'neath the wing | C |
Her father's riches well might lovers bring | C |
Whate'er his daughter wished he would provide | D |
Amusements jewels dress and much beside | D |
- | |
BLITHE Damon for her having felt the dart | E |
The belle received the offer of his heart | E |
So well he managed and expressed his flame | F |
That soon her lord and master he became | F |
By Hymen's right divine you may conceive | G |
And nothing short of it you should believe | G |
- | |
A YEAR had passed and still our charming pair | H |
Were always pleased and blisses seemed to share | H |
The honeymoon appeared but just began | I |
And hopes were entertained to have a son | J |
When Damon on the subject chanced to touch | K |
In truth said he my soul is troubled much | K |
There is a fact my dear to you I'll tell | L |
I wish sincerely since I love so well | L |
That for another I had never known | M |
Such fond affection as to you I've shown | M |
And none but you had entered in my breast | B |
So worthy ev'ry way to be caressed | B |
I have howe'er experienced other flame | F |
The fault's acknowledged I confess my shame | F |
'Twas in a wood the nymph was young and nice | N |
And Cupid only near to give advice | N |
So well he managed or so ill you'll say | O |
A little girl I've living at this day | O |
- | |
WHAT cried Aminta now to you I'll state | P |
What happened once to be your spouse's fate | P |
I was at home alone to say the truth | Q |
When thither came by chance a sprightly youth | Q |
The lad was handsome with engaging mien | R |
I felt his worth my nature is serene | R |
In short so many things were our employ | S |
I've still upon my hands a little boy | S |
- | |
THESE words no sooner had escaped the belle | L |
Than Damon into jealous torments fell | L |
With rage he left the room and on his way | O |
A large pack saddle near his footsteps lay | O |
Which on his back he put then cried aloud | T |
I'm saddled see round quickly came a crowd | T |
The father mother all the servants ran | I |
The neighbours too the husband then began | I |
To state the circumstance that gave him pain | U |
And fully all the folly to explain | U |
- | |
THE reader must not fail to keep in mind | V |
Aminta's parents were both rich and kind | V |
And having only her to be their heir | H |
The aged couple let the youthful pair | H |
With all their train within the house reside | D |
And tranquilly the moments seemed to glide | D |
- | |
THU mother fondly to her daughter flew | W |
The father followed keeping her in view | W |
The dame went in but he remained without | X |
To listen he designed beyond a doubt | X |
The door was on the jar the sage drew near | Y |
In short to all they said he lent an ear | Z |
The lady thus he heard reproach her child | A2 |
You're clearly wrong most silly may be styled | A2 |
I've many simpletons and ninnies seen | R |
But such as you before there ne'er has been | B2 |
Who'd have believed you indiscreet like this | C2 |
Who forced you to reveal what was amiss | C2 |
What obligation to divulge the fact | D2 |
More girls than one have failed to be exact | D2 |
The Devil's crafty folks are wicked too | W |
But that is no excuse however true | W |
In convents all of us should be immured | W |
Till perfectly by Hymen's bands secured | W |
- | |
E'EN I who speak alas have troubles met | W |
Within my bosom oft I feel regret | W |
Three children ere my marriage I had got | W |
Have I your father told this secret blot | W |
Have we together been less happy found | W |
The list'ner had no sooner heard the sound | W |
But like a man distracted off he flew | W |
The saddle's girth which hazard near him threw | W |
He took and fastened tightly 'bout his waist | W |
Then bawled around and round with anxious haste | W |
I'm girth'd d'ye see completely taken in | B2 |
The people stared an 'gan to laugh and grin | B2 |
Though each was conscious if the truth were known | M |
The ridicule in turn might be his own | M |
- | |
BOTH husbands madly ran from cross to square | H |
And with their foolish clamours rent the air | H |
I'm saddled hooted one I'm girth'd said this | C2 |
The latter some perhaps will doubt and hiss | C2 |
Such things however should not be disbelieved | W |
For instance recollect what's well received | W |
When Roland learned the pleasures and the charms | E2 |
His rival in the grot had in his arms | E2 |
With fist he gave his horse so hard a blow | F2 |
It sunk at once to realms of poignant woe | F2 |
Might he not training round the hapless beast | W |
From weight of saddle have its back released | W |
And putting it upon his own have cried | W |
I'm saddled I'm girth'd and much beside | W |
No matter this or that since each is good | W |
Which Echo would repeat from hill to wood | W |
You see that truth may be discovered here | Z |
That's not enough its object should appear | Y |
And that I'll show as further we proceed | W |
Your full attention I of course shall need | W |
- | |
THE happy Damon clearly seems to me | G2 |
As poor a thing as any we shall see | G2 |
His confidence would soon have spoiled the whole | H2 |
To leave a belle like this without control | H2 |
Her simplicity I much admire | I2 |
Confess herself to spouse as if a friar | J2 |
What silliness imprudence is a word | W |
Which here to use would truly be absurd | W |
To my discourse two heads alone remain | U |
The marriage vow you always should maintain | U |
Its faith the pair should ever keep in view | W |
The path of honour steadily pursue | W |
If some mishap howe'er should chance to glide | W |
And make you limp on one or t'other side | W |
Endeavour of the fault to make the best | W |
And keep the secret locked within your breast | W |
Your own consideration never lose | K2 |
Untruth 'tis pardonable then to use | L2 |
- | |
No doubt my pages nice advice supply | M2 |
Is't what I've followed No you may rely | M2 |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
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