The Rhemese Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEE FFGGHHIIJJKK LLMMNNOO PPQQRRSSTTUUVVWWXXYY ZZ A2A2B2B2C2C2IID2E2 WWF2F2G2G2JJ H2H2EEI2I2BB SSXXJ2J2LLRRK2H2G2G2 F2F2 G2G2JJLLG2G2L2L2M2M2 A2A2 N2N2EEO2O2P2P2 P2P2P2P2 P2P2G2G2P2P2 H2H2P2P2M2M2P2P2K2H2 P2P2G2G2P2P2Q2Q2R2R2 P2P2S2S2P2P2ZZP2P2T2 T2 Q2Q2U2U2CCV2V2 U2U2G2G2LL P2P2P2P2U2NO city I to Rheims would e'er prefer | A |
Of France the pride and honour I aver | A |
The Holy Ampoule and delicious wine | B |
Which ev'ry one regards as most divine | B |
We'll set apart and other objects take | C |
The beauties round a paradise might make | C |
I mean not tow'rs nor churches gates nor streets | D |
But charming belles with soft enchanting sweets | D |
Such oft among the fair Rhemese we view | E |
Kings might be proud those graces to pursue | E |
- | |
ONE 'mong these belles had to the altar led | F |
A painter much esteemed and who had bread | F |
What more was requisite he lived at ease | G |
And by his occupation sought to please | G |
A happy woman all believed his wife | H |
The husband's talents pleased her to the life | H |
For gallantry howe'er he was renowned | I |
And many am'rous dames who dwelled around | I |
Would seek the artist with a double aim | J |
So all our chronicles record his fame | J |
But since much penetration 's not my boast | K |
I just believe what's requisite at most | K |
- | |
WHENE'ER the painter had in hand a fair | L |
He'd jest his wife and laugh with easy air | L |
But Hymen's rights proceeding as they ought | M |
With jealous fears her breast was never fraught | M |
She might indeed repay his tricks in kind | N |
And gratify in soft amours her mind | N |
Except that she less confidence had shown | O |
And was not led to him the truth to own | O |
- | |
AMONG the men attracted by her smiles | P |
Two neighbours much delighted with her wiles | P |
Were often tempted by her sprightly wit | Q |
To listen to her chat and with her sit | Q |
For she had far the most engaging mien | R |
Of any charmer that around was seen | R |
Superior understanding she possessed | S |
Though fond of laughter frolick fun and jest | S |
She to her husband presently disclosed | T |
The love these cit gallants to her proposed | T |
Both known for arrant blockheads through the town | U |
And ever boasting of their own renown | U |
To him she gave their various speeches tones | V |
Each silly air their tears and sighs and groans | V |
They'd read or rather heard we may believe | W |
That when in love with sighs fond bosoms heave | W |
Their utmost to succeed these coxcombs tried | X |
And seemed convinced they should not be denied | X |
A common cause they would the business hold | Y |
And what one knew the other must be told | Y |
Whichever first a favour might obtain | Z |
Should tell his happiness to t'other swain | Z |
- | |
YE FAIR 'tis thus they oft your kindness treat | A2 |
The pleasure that he wished alone is sweet | A2 |
LOVE is no more of t'other laid in earth | B2 |
We've here no traces scarcely from the birth | B2 |
You serve for sport and prey to giddy youth | C2 |
Devoid of talents principles and truth | C2 |
'Tis right they should suppose still two are found | I |
Who take their course continually round | I |
The first that in your pleasure grounds appears | D2 |
I'd have you on his wings to use the shears | E2 |
- | |
OUR lady then her lovers to deceive | W |
One day observed you shall my friends this eve | W |
Drink wine with me my husband will away | F2 |
And what's delightful till to morrow stay | F2 |
We shall ourselves be able to amuse | G2 |
And laugh and sing and talk as we may choose | G2 |
'Tis excellent cried they things well you frame | J |
And at the promised hour the heroes came | J |
- | |
WHEN introduced and all supposing clear | H2 |
A sudden knocking turned their joy to fear | H2 |
The door was barred she to the window flew | E |
I think said she that's to the master due | E |
And should it prove to be as I suspect | I2 |
'Tis he I vow fly hide he'll you detect | I2 |
Some accident suspicion or design | B |
Has brought him back to sleep I now divine | B |
- | |
OUR two gallants when dangers round them pressed | S |
A closet entered mightily distressed | S |
To get away 'twere folly to have tried | X |
The husband came the roast he quickly spied | X |
With pigeons too in diff'rent fashions cooked | J2 |
Why hey said he as round about he looked | J2 |
What guests have you that supper you prepare | L |
The wife replied two neighbours taste our fare | L |
Sweet Alice and good Simonetta mean | R |
To night at table with us to be seen | R |
I'm quite rejoiced to think that you are here | K2 |
The company will more complete appear | H2 |
These dames will by your presence nothing lose | G2 |
I'll run and hasten them 'twill you amuse | G2 |
The whole is ready I'll at once away | F2 |
And beg in coming they'll no more delay | F2 |
- | |
THE ladies named were wives of our gallants | G2 |
So fond of contraband and smuggled grants | G2 |
Who vexed to be confined still praised the dame | J |
For skewing such address to 'scape from blame | J |
She soon returned and with her brought the FAIR | L |
Who gaily singing entered free from care | L |
The painter them received with bow and kiss | G2 |
To praise their beauty he was not remiss | G2 |
Their dress was charming all he much admired | L2 |
Their presence frolick fun and jest inspired | L2 |
Which no way pleased the husbands in the cage | M2 |
Who saw the freaks with marks of bursting rage | M2 |
The door half open gave a view complete | A2 |
How freely he their wives was led to treat | A2 |
- | |
THINGS thus commenced the supper next was served | N2 |
From playful tricks the painter never swerved | N2 |
But placed himself at table 'twist the two | E |
And jest and frolicking would still pursue | E |
To women wine and fun said he I drink | O2 |
Put round the toast none from it e'er must shrink | O2 |
The order was obeyed the glass oft filled | P2 |
The party soon had all the liquor swilled | P2 |
- | |
THE wife just then it seems no servant kept | P2 |
More wine to get she to the cellar stept | P2 |
But dreading ghosts she Simonetta prayed | P2 |
To light her down she was so much afraid | P2 |
- | |
THE painter was alone with Alice left | P2 |
A country belle of beauty not bereft | P2 |
Slight nicely made with rather pretty face | G2 |
She thought herself possessed of ev'ry grace | G2 |
And in a country town she well might get | P2 |
The appellation of a gay coquette | P2 |
- | |
THE wily spark perceiving no one near | H2 |
Soon ran from compliment to sweet and dear | H2 |
Her lips assailed the tucker drew aside | P2 |
And stole a kiss that hurt her husband's pride | P2 |
Who all beheld but spouses that are sage | M2 |
No trifles heed nor peccadillos page | M2 |
Though doubtless when such meetings are possessed | P2 |
The simple kiss gives room to dread the rest | P2 |
For when the devil whispers in the ear | K2 |
Of one that sleeps he wakes at once to fear | H2 |
- | |
THE husband howsoe'er at length perceived | P2 |
Still more concessions which his bosom grieved | P2 |
While on the neck a hand appeared to please | G2 |
The other wandered equally at ease | G2 |
Be not offended love was often said | P2 |
To frantick rage the sight her sposo led | P2 |
Who beating in his hat was on the move | Q2 |
To sally forth his wrath to let them prove | Q2 |
To thrash his wife and force her spark to feel | R2 |
his nervous arm could quickly make him reel | R2 |
- | |
BE not so silly whispered t'other Wight | P2 |
To stir up noise could ne'er be reckoned right | P2 |
Be quiet now consider where we are | S2 |
Keep close or else you'll all our pleasures mar | S2 |
Remember written 'tis By others do | P2 |
The same as you would like they should by you | P2 |
'Tis proper in this place we should remain | Z |
Till all is hushed in sleep then freedom gain | Z |
That's my opinion how we ought to act | P2 |
Are you not half a cuckold now in fact | P2 |
Fair Alice has consented that's enough | T2 |
The rest is mere compliance nonsense stuff | T2 |
- | |
THE husband seemed the reasons to approve | Q2 |
Some slight attempts the lady made to move | Q2 |
No time for more What then you ask Why then | U2 |
The lady put her cap to rights agen | U2 |
No mark appeared suspicion to awake | C |
Except her cheek a scarlet hue might take | C |
Mere trifle that from talking it might spring | V2 |
And other causes doubtless we could bring | V2 |
- | |
ONE of the belles howe'er who went for wine | U2 |
Smiled on returning at the blushing sign | U2 |
The painter's wife but soon they filled each glass | G2 |
And briskly round the bottle seemed to pass | G2 |
They drank the host the hostess and the FAIR | L |
Who 'mong the three should first her wishes share | L |
- | |
AT length a second time the bottle failed | P2 |
The hostess' fear of ghosts again prevailed | P2 |
And mistress Alice now for escort went | P2 |
Though much she wished the other to have sent | P2 |
With Simonetta she was forced to chan | U2 |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
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