The Truckers Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFF GGHHII JJKKLLMMNNOOPPQQGGRR SSTTUUVVLL WWDDXXLLYY ZZSSA2A2 B2B2IIC2C2 D2D2E2E2XXKKDDLLA2A2 F2F2 YYG2G2H2H2I2I2 MMHJ2NNK2K2L2L2M2M2P P N2N2O2O2P2P2Q2Q2R2R2 MMJJCCS2S2T2T2FFP2P2 U2U2V2W2ZZX2X2N2N2 Y2Y2Z2Z2A3A3B3B3 C2C2C3C3D3D3GG E3E3F3F3 D2D2JJN2N2MMG3G3G2G2 H3H3TTGE2THE change of food enjoyment is to man | A |
In this t'include the woman is my plan | A |
I cannot guess why Rome will not allow | B |
Exchange in wedlock and its leave avow | B |
Not ev'ry time such wishes might arise | C |
But once in life at least 'twere not unwise | C |
Perhaps one day we may the boon obtain | D |
Amen I say my sentiments are plain | D |
The privilege in France may yet arrive | E |
There trucking pleases and exchanges thrive | E |
The people love variety we find | F |
And such by heav'n was ere for them designed | F |
- | |
ONCE there dwelled near Rouen sapient clime | G |
Two villagers whose wives were in their prime | G |
And rather pleasing in their shape and mien | H |
For those in whom refinement 's scarcely seen | H |
Each looker on conceives LOVE needs not greet | I |
Such humble wights as he would prelates treat | I |
- | |
IT happened howsoe'er both weary grown | J |
Of halves that they so long had called their own | J |
One holyday with them there chanced to drink | K |
The village lawyer bred in Satan's sink | K |
To him said one of these with jeering air | L |
Good mister Oudinet a strange affair | L |
Is in my head you've doubtless often made | M |
Variety of contracts 'tis your trade | M |
Now cannot you contrive by one of these | N |
That men should barter wives like goods at ease | N |
Our pastor oft his benefice has changed | O |
Is trucking wives less easily arranged | O |
It cannot be for well I recollect | P |
That Parson Gregory whom none suspect | P |
Would always say or much my mem'ry fails | Q |
My flock 's my wife love equally prevails | Q |
He changed let us good neighbour do the same | G |
With all my heart said t'other that's my aim | G |
But well thou know'st that mine's the fairest face | R |
And Mister Oudinet since that's the case | R |
Should he not add at least his mule to boot | S |
My mule rejoined the first that will not suit | S |
In this world ev'ry thing has got its price | T |
Mine I will change for thine and that 's concise | T |
Wives are not viewed so near naught will I add | U |
Why neighbour Stephen dost thou think me mad | U |
To give my mule to boot of mules the king | V |
Not e'en an ass I'd to the bargain bring | V |
Change wife for wife the barter will be fair | L |
Then each will act with t'other on the square | L |
- | |
THE village lawyer now the friends addressed | W |
Said he Antoinetta is confessed | W |
To have superior charms to those of Jane | D |
But still if I may venture to be plain | D |
Not always is the best what meets the eye | X |
For many beauties in concealment lie | X |
Which I prefer and these are hid with care | L |
Deceptions too are practised by the FAIR | L |
Howe'er we wish the whole to be disclosed | Y |
Too much 'tis said they must not be exposed | Y |
- | |
NOW neighbours let us fair arrangement make | Z |
A pig in poke you'd neither give nor take | Z |
Confront these halves in nature's birth day suit | S |
To neither then will you deceit impute | S |
The project was most thoroughly approved | A2 |
Like inclination both the husbands moved | A2 |
- | |
ANTOINETTA said the second spouse | B2 |
Has neither ill nor scratch her fears to rouse | B2 |
Jane cried the first is ev'ry way complete | I |
No freckles on the skin as balm she's sweet | I |
Antoinetta is her spouse replied | C2 |
Ambrosia ev'ry way no fault to hide | C2 |
- | |
SAID t'other Don't so confident appear | D2 |
Thou know'st not Jane her ways would marble cheer | D2 |
And there's a play thou understand'st no doubt | E2 |
To this rejoined the second village lout | E2 |
One diff'rence only have my wife and I | X |
Which plays the prettiest wiles is what we try | X |
Thou'lt very soon of these know how to think | K |
Here's to thee neighbour Mister Oud'net drink | K |
Come toast Antoinetta likewise Jane | D |
The mule was granted and the bargain plain | D |
Our village lawyer promised to prepare | L |
At once the writings which would all declare | L |
This Oudinet a good apostle proved | A2 |
Well paid for parchment or he never moved | A2 |
By whom was payment made by both the dames | F2 |
On neither husband showed he any claims | F2 |
- | |
THE village clowns some little time supposed | Y |
That all was secret not a hint disclosed | Y |
The parson of it howsoe'er obtained | G2 |
Some intimation and his off'rings gained | G2 |
I was not present fully I admit | H2 |
But rarely clergymen their dues will quit | H2 |
The very clerk would not remit his fee | I2 |
All those who serve the church in this agree | I2 |
- | |
THE permutation could not well be made | M |
But scandal would such practices upbraid | M |
In country villages each step is seen | H |
Thus round the whisper went of what had been | J2 |
And placed at length the thorn where all was ease | N |
The pow'rs divine alone it could displease | N |
'Twas pleasant them together to behold | K2 |
The wives in emulation were not cold | K2 |
In easy talk they'd to each other say | L2 |
How pleasing to exchange from day to day | L2 |
What think you neighbour if to try our luck | M2 |
For once we've something new and valets truck | M2 |
This last if made the secret had respect | P |
The other had at first a good effect | P |
- | |
FOR one good month the whole proceeded well | N2 |
But at the end disgust dispersed the spell | N2 |
And neighbour Stephen as we might suppose | O2 |
Began dissatisfaction to disclose | O2 |
Lamented much Antoinetta's stop | P2 |
No doubt he was a loser by the swop | P2 |
Yet neighbour Giles expressed extreme regret | Q2 |
That t'other from him ought to boot should get | Q2 |
Howe'er he would retrucking not consent | R2 |
So much he otherwise appeared content | R2 |
- | |
IT happened on a day as Stephen strayed | M |
Within a wood he saw beneath a shade | M |
And near the stream asleep and quite alone | J |
Antoinetta whom he wished his own | J |
He near her drew and waked her with surprise | C |
The change ne'er struck her when she ope'd her eyes | C |
The gay gallant advantage quickly took | S2 |
And what he wished soon placed within his hook | S2 |
'Tis said he found her better than at first | T2 |
Why so you ask was she then at the worst | T2 |
A curious question truly you've designed | F |
In Cupid's am'rous code of laws you'll find | F |
Bread got by stealth and eat where none can spy | P2 |
Is better far than what you bake or buy | P2 |
For proof of this ask those most learn'd in love | U2 |
Truth we prefer all other things above | U2 |
Yet Hymen and the god of soft desire | V2 |
How much soe'er their union we admire | W2 |
Are not designed together bread to bake | Z |
In proof the sleeping scene for instance take | Z |
Good cheer was there each dish was served with taste | X2 |
The god of love who often cooks in haste | X2 |
Most nicely seasoned things to relish well | N2 |
In this he's thought old Hymen to excel | N2 |
- | |
ANTOINETTA to his clasp restored | Y2 |
Our neighbour Stephen who his wife adored | Y2 |
Quite raw howe'er in this exclaimed apart | Z2 |
Friend Giles has surely got some secret art | Z2 |
For now my rib displays superior charms | A3 |
To what she had before she left my arms | A3 |
Let's take her back and play the Norman trick | B3 |
Deny the whole and by our priv'lege stick | B3 |
- | |
IMMEDIATELY he ev'ry effort tried | C2 |
To get the bargain fully set aside | C2 |
Giles much distressed exerted all his might | C3 |
To keep his prize and prove his conduct right | C3 |
The cause was carried to the bishop's court | D3 |
Much noise it made according to report | D3 |
At length the parliament would hear the claim | G |
And judge a case of such peculiar fame | G |
- | |
THE village lawyer Oudinet was brought | E3 |
From him who drew the contract truth was sought | E3 |
There rests the cause for 'tis of recent date | F3 |
While undecided more we cannot state | F3 |
- | |
HOW silly neighbour Stephen must appear | D2 |
He went against his int'rest now 'tis clear | D2 |
For when superior pleasure he was shown | J |
The fascinating fair was not his own | J |
Good sense would whisper then 'twere full as well | N2 |
To let remain with Giles the beauteous belle | N2 |
Save now and then within the leafy shade | M |
Where oft Antoinetta visits made | M |
And warbled to the shrubs and trees around | G3 |
There he might easily the nymph have found | G3 |
But if with ease it could not be obtained | G2 |
Still greater pleasure he would then have gained | G2 |
- | |
GO preach me this to silly country louts | H3 |
These howsoe'er had managed well their bouts | H3 |
It must not be denied and all was nice | T |
To do the like perhaps 'twill some entice | T |
I much regret my lot was not the same | G |
Though doubt | E2 |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
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