The Three Gossips' Wager Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDDEE FFDDGGHHIIJJKK KKDDLLDDMMKKNNDDKK KKOOKKDDKKFFKKDDKKPP QR KKKKST KKDDKK KKUUDDFFVVKKKKLLTTKK WWFFXXKKFFDD DDDDKKDDYYZZKKKK XXKKKKKKKKZZDDKKDDDD A2A2KKB2B2KKKKDDC2D D2 C2 K K D2 E2E2DD U QR K WW D2K U F2 D2 KB2B2 U E2 K E2G2G2 KKDDYYK

AS o'er their wine one day three gossips satA
Discoursing various pranks in pleasant chatA
Each had a loving friend and two of theseB
Most clearly managed matters at their easeB
-
SAID one a princely husband I have gotC
A better in the world there's surely notC
With him I can adjust as humour fitsD
No need to rise at early dawn like citsD
To prove to him that two and three make fourE
Or ask his leave to ope or shut the doorE
-
UPON my word replied another fairF
If he were mine I openly declareF
To judge from what so pleasantly you sayD
I'd make a present of him new year's dayD
For pleasure never gives me full delightG
Unless a little pain the bliss inviteG
No doubt your husband moves as he is ledH
Thank heav'n a different mortal claims my bedH
To take him in great nicety we needI
But howsoe'er at times I can succeedI
The satisfaction doubly then is feltJ
In fond emotion bosoms freely meltJ
With neither of you husband or gallantK
Would I exchange though these so much you vauntK
-
ON this the third with candour interfer'dK
She thought that oft the god of love appear'dK
Good husbands playfully to fret and vexD
Sometimes to rally couples then perplexD
But warmer as the conversation grewL
She anxious that each disputant might viewL
Herself victorious or believe it soD
Exclaim'd if either of you wish to showD
Who's in the right with argument have doneM
And let us practise some new scheme of funM
To dupe our husbands she who don't succeedK
Shall pay a forfeit all replied quot Agreed quotK
But then continued she we ought to takeN
An oath that we will full discov'ry makeN
To one another of the various factsD
Without disguising even trifling actsD
And then good upright Macae shall decideK
Thus things arrang'd the ladies homeward pliedK
-
SHE 'mong the three who felt the most constraintK
Ador'd a youth contemporaries paintK
Well made and handsome but with beardless chinO
Which led the pair a project to beginO
For yet no opportunity they'd foundK
T' enjoy their wishes save by stealth aroundK
Most ardently she sought to be at easeD
And 'twas agreed the lucky thought to seizeD
That like a chambermaid he should be dress'dK
And then proceed to execute the jestK
Attend upon the wily wedded pairF
And offer services with modest airF
And downcast eyes the husband on her leer'dK
And in her favour prepossess'd appear'dK
In hopes one day to find those pleasing charmsD
Resign'd in secret to his longing armsD
Such pretty cheeks and sparkling eyes he thoughtK
Had ne'er till then his roving fancy caughtK
The girl was hir'd but seemingly with painP
Since PRUDENCE ultimately might complainP
That maid and master both so very youngQ
'Twould not be wonderful if things went wrongR
-
AT first the husband inattention show'dK
And scarcely on the maid a look bestow'dK
But presently he chang'd his conduct quiteK
And presents gave with promises not slightK
At length the servant feign'd to lend an earS
And anxious seem'd obliging to appearT
-
THE trap our cunning lovers having laidK
One eve this message brought the smiling maidK
My lady sir is ill and rest requiresD
To sleep alone to night she much desiresD
To grant the master's wish the girl was ledK
And they together hurried off to bedK
-
THE husband 'tween the sheets himself had plac'dK
The nymph was in her petticoat unlac'dK
When suddenly appear'd the wily wifeU
And promis'd harmony was turn'd to strifeU
Are these your freaks cried she with mark'd surpriseD
Your usual dish it seems then don't sufficeD
You want indeed to have some nicer fareF
A little sooner by the saints I swearF
You'd me a pretty trick 'tis clear have shownV
And doubtless then tit bits to keep been proneV
This howsoe'er to get you're not design'dK
So elsewhere you may try what you can findK
And as to you miss Prettyface you jadeK
Good heav'ns to think a paltry servant maidK
Should rival me I'll beat you black and blueL
The bread I eat indeed must be for youL
But I know better and indeed am clearT
Not one around will fancy I appearT
So void of charms so faded wither'd lostK
That I should out of doors at once be tostK
But I will manage matters I designW
This girl no other bed shall have than mineW
Then who so bold to touch her there will dareF
Come Miss let's to my room at once repairF
Away your things to morrow you can seekX
If scandal 'twould spread around I'd wreakX
My vengeance instantly and turn you outK
But I am lenient and desire no routK
Perhaps your ruin may be sav'd by careF
So night and day your company I'll shareF
No more my bosom then will feel dismayD
For I shall see that you no frolicks playD
-
ON this the trembling girl o'ercome with fearsD
Held down her head and seem'd to hide her tearsD
Pick'd up her clothes and quickly stole awayD
As if afraid her mistress more might sayD
And hop'd to act the maid while Sol gave lightK
But play at ease the fond gallant at nightK
At once she fill'd two places in the houseD
And thought in both the husband she should chouseD
Who bless'd his stars that he'd escap'd so wellY
And sneak'd alone to rest within his cellY
While our gay am'rous pair advantage tookZ
To play at will and ev'ry solace hookZ
Convinc'd most thoroughly once lovers kiss'dK
That OPPORTUNITY should n'er be miss'dK
Here ends the trick our wily gossip play'dK
But now let's see the plot another laidK
-
THE second dame whose husband was so meekX
That only from her lips the truth he'd seekX
When seated with him 'neath a pear tree's shadeK
Contriv'd at ease and her arrangement madeK
The story I shall presently relateK
The butler strong well dress'd and full of prateK
Who often made the other servants trotK
Stood near when madam hit upon her plotK
To whom she said I wish the fruit to tasteK
On which the man prepar'd with ev'ry hasteK
To climb the tree and off the produce shookZ
But while above the fellow gave a lookZ
Upon the ground below and feign'd he sawD
The spouse and wife do more than kiss and pawD
The servant rubb'd his eyes as if in doubtK
And cried why truly sir if you're so stoutK
That you must revel 'mid your lady's charmsD
Pray elsewhere take her to your longing armsD
Where you at ease may frolick hours or daysD
Without my witnessing your loving waysD
Indeed I'm quite surprised at what I spyA2
In publick 'neath a tree such pranks to tryA2
And if you don't a servant's presence heedK
With decency howe'er you should proceedK
What still go on for shame I say for shameB2
Pray wait till by and by you're much to blameB2
Besides the nights are long enough you'll findK
Heav'n genial joys for privacy design'dK
And why this place when you've nice chambers gotK
What cried the lady says this noisy sotK
He surely dreams Where can he learn these talesD
Come down let's see what 'tis the fellow ailsD
Down William came How said the master howC2
Are we at playD
-
WILLIAMD2
-
Not now sir no not nowC2
-
HUSBANDK
-
Why when then friendK
-
WILLIAMD2
-
While I was in the treeE2
Alive sir flay me if I did not seeE2
You on the verdant lawn my lady layD
And kiss and toy and other frolicks playD
-
WIFEU
-
'Twere surely better if thou held'st thy tongueQ
Or thou'lt a beating get before 'tis longR
-
HUSBANDK
-
No no my dear he's mad and I designW
The fellow in a madhouse to confineW
-
WILLIAMD2
Is't folly pray to see what we beholdK
-
WIFEU
-
What hast thou seenF2
-
WILLIAMD2
-
What I've already toldK
My master and yourself at Cupid's gameB2
Or else the tree 's enchanted I proclaimB2
-
WIFEU
-
ENCHANTED nonsense such a sight to seeE2
-
HUSBANDK
-
To know the truth myself I'll climb the treeE2
Then you the fact will quickly from me learnG2
We may believe what we ourselves discernG2
-
SOON as the master they above descriedK
And that below our pair he sharply eyedK
The butler took the lady in his armsD
And grew at once familiar with her charmsD
At sight of this the husband gave a yellY
Made haste to reach the ground and nearly fellY
Such liberties he wish'd at once toK

Jean De La Fontaine



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