The Peasant And His Angry Lord Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDBBEEBBBBFFGG BBHHIIBBJJBBBB BBIIBBBBKKLLBBBBBBMM NNOOGGDDJJFFNN BBHHIIBBPPBB BBDDQQBBRS BBBBTTBBUU BBBBVV| ONCE on a time as hist'ry's page relates | A |
| A lord possessed of many large estates | A |
| Was angry with a poor and humble clod | B |
| Who tilled his grounds and feared his very nod | B |
| Th' offence as often happens was but small | C |
| But on him vowed the peer his rage should fall | C |
| Said he a halter rascal you deserve | D |
| You'll never from the gallows turnpike swerve | D |
| Or soon or late you swinging will be found | B |
| Who born for hanging ever yet was drowned | B |
| Howe'er you'll smile to hear my lenient voice | E |
| Observe three punishments await your choice | E |
| Take which you will The first is you shall eat | B |
| Of strongest garlick thirty heads complete | B |
| No drink you'll have between nor sleep nor rest | B |
| You know a breach of promise I detest | B |
| Or on your shoulders further I propose | F |
| To give you with a cudgel thirty blows | F |
| Or if more pleasing that you truly pay | G |
| The sum of thirty pounds without delay | G |
| - | |
| THE peasant 'gan to turn things in his mind | B |
| Said he to take the heads I'm not inclined | B |
| No drink you say between that makes it worse | H |
| To eat the garlick thus would prove a curse | H |
| Nor can I suffer on my tender back | I |
| That with a cudgel thirty blows you thwack | I |
| Still harder thirty pounds to pay appeared | B |
| Uncertain how to act he hanging feared | B |
| The noble peer he begged upon his knees | J |
| His penitence to hear and sentence ease | J |
| But mercy dwelled not with the angry lord | B |
| Is this cried he the answer bring a cord | B |
| The peasant trembling lest his life was sought | B |
| The garlick chose which presently was brought | B |
| - | |
| UPON a dish my lord the number told | B |
| Clod no way liked the garlick to behold | B |
| With piteous mien the garlick head he took | I |
| Then on it num'rous ways was led to look | I |
| And grumbling much began to spit and eat | B |
| just like a cat with mustard on her meat | B |
| To touch it with his tongue he durst not do | B |
| He knew not how to act or what pursue | B |
| The peer delighted at the man's distress | K |
| The garlick made him bite and chew and press | K |
| Then gulp it down as if delicious fare | L |
| The first he passed the second made him swear | L |
| The third he found was every whit as sad | B |
| He wished the devil had it 'twas so bad | B |
| In short when at the twelfth our wight arrived | B |
| He thought his mouth and throat of skin deprived | B |
| Said he some drink I earnestly intreat | B |
| What Greg'ry cried my lord dost feel a heat | B |
| In thy repasts dost love to wet thy jaws | M |
| Well well I won't object thou know'st my laws | M |
| Much good may't do thee here some wine some wine | N |
| Yet recollect to drink since you design | N |
| That afterward my friend you'll have to choose | O |
| The thirty blows or thirty pounds to lose | O |
| But cried the peasant I sincerely pray | G |
| Your lordship's goodness that the garlick may | G |
| Be taken in the account for as to pelf | D |
| Where can an humble lab'rer like myself | D |
| Expect the sum of thirty pounds to seize | J |
| Then said the peer be cudgelled if you please | J |
| Take thirty thwacks for naught the garlick goes | F |
| To moisten well his throat and ease his woes | F |
| The peasant drank a copious draught of wine | N |
| And then to bear the cudgel would resign | N |
| - | |
| A SINGLE blow he patiently endured | B |
| The second howsoe'er his patience cured | B |
| The third was more severe and each was worse | H |
| The punishment he now began to curse | H |
| Two lusty wights with cudgels thrashed his back | I |
| And regularly gave him thwack and thwack | I |
| He cried he roared for grace he begged his lord | B |
| Who marked each blow and would no ease accord | B |
| But carefully observed from time to time | P |
| That lenity he always thought sublime | P |
| His gravity preserved considered too | B |
| The blows received and what continued due | B |
| - | |
| AT length when Greg'ry twenty strokes had got | B |
| He piteously exclaimed if more's my lot | B |
| I never shall survive Oh pray forgive | D |
| If you desire my lord that I should live | D |
| Then down with thirty pounds replied the peer | Q |
| Since you the blows so much pretend to fear | Q |
| I'm sorry for you but if all the gold | B |
| Be not prepared your godfather I'm told | B |
| Can lend a part yet since so far you've been | R |
| To flinch the rest you surely won't be seen | S |
| - | |
| THE wretched peasant to his lordship flew | B |
| And trembling cried 'tis up the number view | B |
| A scrutiny was made which nothing gained | B |
| No choice but pay the money now remained | B |
| This grieved him much and o'er the fellow's face | T |
| The dewy drops were seen to flow apace | T |
| All useless proved the full demand he sent | B |
| With which the peer expressed himself content | B |
| Unlucky he whoe'er his lord offends | U |
| To golden ore howe'er the proud man bends | U |
| - | |
| 'TWAS vain that Gregory a pardon prayed | B |
| For trivial faults the peasant dearly paid | B |
| His throat enflamed his tender back well beat | B |
| His money gone and all to make complete | B |
| Without the least deduction for the pain | V |
| The blows and garlick gave the trembling swain | V |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
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