The Mandrake Poem Rhyme Scheme

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FLORENTINE we now design to show	A
A greater blockhead ne'er appeared below	A
It seems a prudent woman he had wed	B
With beauty that might grace a monarch's bed	B
Young brisk good humoured with engaging mien	C
None in the town or round the like was seen	C
Her praises every voice inclined to sing	D
And judged her worthy of a mighty king	D
At least a better husband she deserved	E
An arrant fool he looked and quite unnerved	E
This Nicia Calfucci for such his name	F
Was fully bent to have a father's fame	F
And thought his country honour he could do	G
Could he contrive his lineage to pursue	G
No holy saint in Paradise was blessed	H
But what this husband fervently addressed	H
From day to day so oft he teazed for grace	I
They scarcely knew his off'rings where to place	I
No matron quack nor conjurer around	J
But what he tried their qualities profound	J
Yet all in vain in spite of charm or book	K
No father he whatever pains he took	K
	-
TO Florence then returned a youth from France	L
Where he had studied more than complaisance	L
Well trained as any from that polished court	M
To Fortune's favours anxious to resort	M
Gallant and seeking ev'ry FAIR to please	L
Each house road alley soon he knew at ease	L
The husbands good or bad their whims and years	L
With ev'ry thing that moved their hopes or fears	L
What sort of fuel best their females charmed	N
What spies were kept by those who felt alarmed	N
The if's for's to's and ev'ry artful wile	O
That might in love a confidant beguile	O
Or nurse or father confessor or dog	P
When passion prompts few obstacles can clog	Q
	-
THE snares were spread each stratagem was laid	R
And every thing arranged to furnish aid	R
When our gay spark determined to invest	H
Old Nicia with the cuckold's branching crest	H
The plan no doubt was well conceived and bold	S
The lady to her friends appeared not cold	S
Within her husband's house she seemed polite	T
But ne'er familiarly was seen invite	T
No further could a lover dare proceed	U
Not one had hope the belle his flame would heed	U
	-
OUR youth Calimachus no sooner came	F
But he howe'er appeared to please the dame	F
His camp he pitched and entered on the siege	V
Of fair Lucretia faithful to her liege	V
Who presently the haughty tigress played	R
And sent him like the rest away dismayed	R
	-
HE scarcely knew what saint he could invoke	W
When Nicia's folly served him for a cloak	W
However strange no stratagem nor snare	X
But what the fool would willingly prepare	X
With all his heart and nothing fancy wrong	Y
That might to others possibly belong	Y
The lover and himself as learned men	Z
Had conversations ev'ry now and then	Z
For Nicia was a doctor in the law	A2
Degree to him not worth a single straw	A2
Far better had he common prudence traced	B2
And not his confidence so badly placed	B2
	-
ONE day he to Calimachus complained	C2
Of want of heirs and wished they could be gained	C2
Where lay the fault He was a gay gallant	D2
Lucretia young with features to enchant	E2
When I at Paris was replied our wight	T
There passed a clever man a curious sight	T
His company with anxious care I sought	F2
And was at length a hundred secrets taught	F2
'Mong others how at will to get an heir	X
A certain thing he often would declare	X
The great Mogul had tried it on his queen	C
just two years since the heir might then be seen	C
And many other princesses of fame	F
Had added by it to their husband's name	F
'Twas very true I've seen it fully proved	G2
The remedy all obstacles removed	G2
'Tis from the root of certain tree expressed	H
A juice most potent ev'ry where confessed	H
And Mandrake called which taken by a wife	H2
More pow'r evinces o'er organick life	H2
Than from conventual grace was e'er derived	I2
Though in the cloister youthful friars hived	I2
	-
TEN months from hence I'll you a father make	J2
No longer time than that I ask to take	J2
This period o'er the child to church we'll bring	D
If true said Nicia what a glorious thing	D
You'll do me services I can't express	L
Don't doubt it cried the spark of smart address	L
Must I the fact so oft to you repeat	I2
I've seen it with my eyes 'tis most complete	I2
You mean to jest assuredly my friend	I2
Would you by doubts the great Mogul offend	I2
So handsomely this traveller he paid	I2
No sign of discontent he e'er betrayed	I2
	-
'TIS excellent the Florentine replied	I2
Lucretia must be pleased to have it tried	I2
What satisfaction in her arms to view	G
An infant that my lineage will renew	G
Now worthy friend you god father shall stand	I2
This very day pray take the thing in hand	I2
	-
NOT quite so fast rejoined our smart gallant	I2
First know the plan before consent you grant	I2
There is an ill attends the whole affair	X
But what below alas is free from care	X
This juice possessing virtues so divine	K2
Has also pow'rs that prove the most malign	K2
Whoe'er receives the patient's first embrace	L
Too fatally the dire effects will trace	L
Death oft succeeds the momentary joy	L2
We scarcely good can find without alloy	L2
	-
YOUR servant sir said Nicia with surprise	L
No more of this the name will me suffice	L
Lucretia we will let remain at ease	L
What you propose can never truly please	L
If I must die by getting of a son	M2
'Tis better far the benefit to shun	M2
Go find some other for your wondrous art	I2
In fact I'm not inclined with life to part	I2
	-
HOW strange your conduct cried the sprightly youth	N2
Extremes you seek and overleap the truth	N2
Just now the fond desire to have a boy	L2
Chased ev'ry care and filled your heart with joy	L2
At present quite the contrary appears	L
A moment changed your fondest hopes to fears	L
Come hear the rest no longer waste your breath	O2
Kind Nature all can cure excepting death	O2
What's necessary pray that things succeed	I2
Some youthful clod for once should take the lead	I2
And clear the way of ev'ry venom round	I2
Then you with safety may commence to sound	I2
No time you'll lose but instantly begin	P2
And you'll most certainly your object win	P2
This step is necessary to the end	I2
Some lad of little worth I recommend	I2
But not ill made nor savagely robust	I2
To give your lady terror nor disgust	I2
We know that used to Nicia's soft caress	L
Lucretia would disrelish rude address	L
Indeed 'tis possible in such event	I2
Her tender heart would never give consent	I2
This led me to propose a man that's young	Q2
Besides the more he proves for action strong	Y
The less of venom will behind remain	R2
And I'll engage that ev'ry drop he'll drain	R2
	-
AT first the husband disapproved the plan	S2
The infamy and danger which they ran	S2
Perhaps the magistrate might have him sought	I2
And he of murder guilty might be thought	I2
The sudden death would mightily perplex	L
A fellow's creature's loss would sorely vex	L
Lucretia who'd withstood each tempter's charms	L
Was now to be disgraced in rustick arms	L
	-
CALIMACHUS with eagerness replied	I2
I would a man of consequence provide	I2
Or one at all events whose anxious aim	F
Would be aloud the myst'ry to proclaim	F
But fear and folly would contain the clown	T2
Or money at the worst would stop renown	T2
Your better half apparently resigned	I2
The clod without intention of the kind	I2
In short whate'er arrived 'tis clear your case	L
Could not with Cuckoldom be well in place	L
Besides 'tis no way certain but our blade	I2
By strength of nerves the poison may evade	I2
And that's a double reason for the choice	L
Since with more certainty we shall rejoice	L
The venom may evaporate in fume	U2
And Mandrake pleasing pow'rs at once assume	U2
For when I spoke of death I did not mean	C
That nothing from it would the person screen	C
To morrow we the rustick lad must name	F
To night the potion given your charming dame	F
I've some already with me all prepared	I2
Let nothing of your project be declared	I2
You should not seem to know what we've designed	I2
Ligurio you'll permit this clod to find	I2
You can most thoroughly in him confide	I2
Discretion secrecy with him reside	I2
One thing however nearly I'd forgot	I2
A	-

Jean De La Fontaine

The Mandrake Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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