The Psalter Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ KK LLMMMMNNOOPPQQRR STUUHHVWXXMMYY KKZZA2A2B2B2C2C2MM D2D2E2F2G2G2H2H2EE I2I2MMJ2G2K2K2 MMMML2L2MM HHM2M2N2N2ZZQQ L2MKKCCG2G2O2O2O2O2L 2L2 O2O2LLO2O2 P2P2O2O2Q2Q2R2R2EEO2 O2MMO2O2O2O2O2O2S2PR RMM

ONCE more permit me nuns and this the lastA
I can't resist whatever may have passedA
But must relate what often I've been toldB
Your tales of convent pranks are seldom coldB
They have a grace that no where else we findC
And somehow better seem to please designedC
Another then we'll have which three will makeD
Three did I say 'tis four or I mistakeD
Let's count them well The GARD'NER first we'll nameE
Then comes the ABBESS whose declining frameE
Required a youth her malady to cureF
A story thought perhaps not over pureF
And as to SISTER JANE who'd got a bratG
I cannot fancy we should alter thatG
These are the whole and four's a number roundH
You'll probably remark 'tis strange I've foundH
Such pleasure in detailing convent scenesI
'Tis not my whim but TASTE that thither leansI
And if you'd kept your breviary in viewJ
'Tis clear you'd nothing had with this to doJ
We know howe'er 'tis not your fondest careK
So quickly to our hist'ry let's repairK
-
A CHARMING youth would frequent visits payL
To nuns whose convent near his dwelling layL
And 'mong the sisters one his person sawM
Who by her eyes would fain attention drawM
Smiles she bestowed and other complaisanceM
But not a single step would he advanceM
By old and young he greatly was admiredN
Sighs burst around but none his bosom firedN
Fair Isabella solely got his loveO
A beauteous nun and gentle as a doveO
Till then a novice in the flow'ry chainP
And envied doubly for her charms and swainP
Their soft amours were watched with eagle eyeQ
No pleasure's free from care you may relyQ
In life each comfort coupled is with illR
And this to alter baffles all our skillR
-
THE sister nuns so vigilant had beenS
One night when darkness overspread the sceneT
And all was proper mysteries to hideU
Some words escaped her cell that doubts suppliedU
And other matters too were heard aroundH
That in her breviary could not be foundH
'Tis her gallant said they he's clearly caughtV
Alarm pervaded swarms were quickly broughtW
Rage seemed to triumph sentinels were placedX
The abbess too must know they were disgracedX
Away they hastened to convey surpriseM
And thund'ring at her door cried madam riseM
For sister Isabella in her cellY
Has got a man which surely can't be wellY
-
YOU will observe the dame was not at prayerK
Nor yet absorbed in sleep devoid of careK
But with her then this abbess had in bedZ
Good parson John by kindness thither ledZ
A neighb'ring rector confessor and friendA2
She rose in haste the sisters to attendA2
And seeking for her veil with sense confusedB2
The parson's breeches took for what she usedB2
Which in the dark resembled what was wornC2
By nuns for veils and called perhaps in scornC2
Among themselves their PSALTER to expressM
Familiarly a common awkward dressM
-
WITH this new ornament by way of veilD2
She sallied forth and heard the woeful taleD2
Then irritated she exclaimed with ireE2
To see this wretched creature I desireF2
The devil's daughter from her bold careerG2
Who'll bring our convent to disgrace I fearG2
But God forbid I say and with his leaveH2
We'll all restore rebuke she shall receiveH2
A chapter we will call the sisters cameE
And stood around to hear their pious dameE
-
FAIR Isabella now the abbess sentI2
Who straight obeyed and to her tears gave ventI2
Which overspread those lily cheeks and eyesM
A roguish youth so lately held his prizeM
What said the abbess pretty scandal hereJ2
When in the house of God such things appearG2
Ashamed to death you ought to be no doubtK2
Who brought you thither such we always scoutK2
-
NOW Isabella sister you must loseM
Henceforth that name to you we cannot useM
The honour is too great in such a caseM
Pray are you sensible of your disgraceM
And what's the punishment you'll undergoL2
Before to morrow this you'll fully knowL2
Our institution chastisement decreesM
Come speak I say we'll hear you if you pleaseM
-
POOR Isabella with her sight on groundH
Confused till then had scarcely looked aroundH
Now raised her eyes and luckily perceivedM2
The breeches which her fears in part relievedM2
And that the sisters by surprise unnervedN2
As oft's the case had never once observedN2
She courage took and to the abbess saidZ
There's something from the Psalter on your headZ
That awkwardly hangs down pray madam tryQ
To put it right or 'twill be in your eyeQ
-
'TWAS knee strings worn at times by priests and beauxL2
For more or less all follow fashion's lawsM
This veil no doubt had very much the airK
Of those unmentionables parsons wearK
And this the nun to frolicking inclinedC
It seems had well impressed upon her mindC
What cried the abbess dares she still to sneerG2
How great her insolence to laugh and jeerG2
When sins so heavily upon her restO2
And ev'ry thing remains quite unconfessedO2
Upon my word she'd be a saint decreedO2
My veil young imp your notice cannot needO2
'Tis better think you little hellish crowL2
What pains your soul must undergo belowL2
-
THE mother abbess sermonized and firedO2
And seemed as if her tongue would ne'er be tiredO2
Again the culprit said your Psalter prayL
Good madam haste to set the proper wayL
On which the sisters looked both young and oldO2
THOSE 'gan to laugh while THESE were heard to scoldO2
-
OUR preacher quite ashamed of what she'd doneP2
Now lost her voice and noticed not the nunP2
The murmur buzzed around too well expressedO2
What thoughts the holy sisterhood possessedO2
At length the abbess said we've now not timeQ2
To take the chapter's votes upon her crimeQ2
'Twould make it late let each to bed returnR2
And till to morrow we'll the case adjournR2
No chapter met howe'er when morrow cameE
Another day arrived and still the sameE
The sages of the convent thought it bestO2
In fact to let the mystick business restO2
Much noise perhaps would hurt religion's causeM
And that considered prudent 'twere to pauseM
Base envy made them Isabella hateO2
And dark suspicions to the abbess stateO2
In short unable by their schemes to getO2
The morsel she'd so fortunately metO2
Each nun exerted all her art to findO2
What equally might satisfy the mindO2
Old friends were willingly received againS2
Her gallant our belle was suffered to retainP
The rector and the abbess had their willR
And such their union precepts to fulfillR
That if a nun had none to give her blissM
To lend a friend was nothing thought amissM

Jean De La Fontaine



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