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 H3H3TTGE2

THE change of food enjoyment is to manA
In this t'include the woman is my planA
I cannot guess why Rome will not allowB
Exchange in wedlock and its leave avowB
Not ev'ry time such wishes might ariseC
But once in life at least 'twere not unwiseC
Perhaps one day we may the boon obtainD
Amen I say my sentiments are plainD
The privilege in France may yet arriveE
There trucking pleases and exchanges thriveE
The people love variety we findF
And such by heav'n was ere for them designedF
-
ONCE there dwelled near Rouen sapient climeG
Two villagers whose wives were in their primeG
And rather pleasing in their shape and mienH
For those in whom refinement 's scarcely seenH
Each looker on conceives LOVE needs not greetI
Such humble wights as he would prelates treatI
-
IT happened howsoe'er both weary grownJ
Of halves that they so long had called their ownJ
One holyday with them there chanced to drinkK
The village lawyer bred in Satan's sinkK
To him said one of these with jeering airL
Good mister Oudinet a strange affairL
Is in my head you've doubtless often madeM
Variety of contracts 'tis your tradeM
Now cannot you contrive by one of theseN
That men should barter wives like goods at easeN
Our pastor oft his benefice has changedO
Is trucking wives less easily arrangedO
It cannot be for well I recollectP
That Parson Gregory whom none suspectP
Would always say or much my mem'ry failsQ
My flock 's my wife love equally prevailsQ
He changed let us good neighbour do the sameG
With all my heart said t'other that's my aimG
But well thou know'st that mine's the fairest faceR
And Mister Oudinet since that's the caseR
Should he not add at least his mule to bootS
My mule rejoined the first that will not suitS
In this world ev'ry thing has got its priceT
Mine I will change for thine and that 's conciseT
Wives are not viewed so near naught will I addU
Why neighbour Stephen dost thou think me madU
To give my mule to boot of mules the kingV
Not e'en an ass I'd to the bargain bringV
Change wife for wife the barter will be fairL
Then each will act with t'other on the squareL
-
THE village lawyer now the friends addressedW
Said he Antoinetta is confessedW
To have superior charms to those of JaneD
But still if I may venture to be plainD
Not always is the best what meets the eyeX
For many beauties in concealment lieX
Which I prefer and these are hid with careL
Deceptions too are practised by the FAIRL
Howe'er we wish the whole to be disclosedY
Too much 'tis said they must not be exposedY
-
NOW neighbours let us fair arrangement makeZ
A pig in poke you'd neither give nor takeZ
Confront these halves in nature's birth day suitS
To neither then will you deceit imputeS
The project was most thoroughly approvedA2
Like inclination both the husbands movedA2
-
ANTOINETTA said the second spouseB2
Has neither ill nor scratch her fears to rouseB2
Jane cried the first is ev'ry way completeI
No freckles on the skin as balm she's sweetI
Antoinetta is her spouse repliedC2
Ambrosia ev'ry way no fault to hideC2
-
SAID t'other Don't so confident appearD2
Thou know'st not Jane her ways would marble cheerD2
And there's a play thou understand'st no doubtE2
To this rejoined the second village loutE2
One diff'rence only have my wife and IX
Which plays the prettiest wiles is what we tryX
Thou'lt very soon of these know how to thinkK
Here's to thee neighbour Mister Oud'net drinkK
Come toast Antoinetta likewise JaneD
The mule was granted and the bargain plainD
Our village lawyer promised to prepareL
At once the writings which would all declareL
This Oudinet a good apostle provedA2
Well paid for parchment or he never movedA2
By whom was payment made by both the damesF2
On neither husband showed he any claimsF2
-
THE village clowns some little time supposedY
That all was secret not a hint disclosedY
The parson of it howsoe'er obtainedG2
Some intimation and his off'rings gainedG2
I was not present fully I admitH2
But rarely clergymen their dues will quitH2
The very clerk would not remit his feeI2
All those who serve the church in this agreeI2
-
THE permutation could not well be madeM
But scandal would such practices upbraidM
In country villages each step is seenH
Thus round the whisper went of what had beenJ2
And placed at length the thorn where all was easeN
The pow'rs divine alone it could displeaseN
'Twas pleasant them together to beholdK2
The wives in emulation were not coldK2
In easy talk they'd to each other sayL2
How pleasing to exchange from day to dayL2
What think you neighbour if to try our luckM2
For once we've something new and valets truckM2
This last if made the secret had respectP
The other had at first a good effectP
-
FOR one good month the whole proceeded wellN2
But at the end disgust dispersed the spellN2
And neighbour Stephen as we might supposeO2
Began dissatisfaction to discloseO2
Lamented much Antoinetta's stopP2
No doubt he was a loser by the swopP2
Yet neighbour Giles expressed extreme regretQ2
That t'other from him ought to boot should getQ2
Howe'er he would retrucking not consentR2
So much he otherwise appeared contentR2
-
IT happened on a day as Stephen strayedM
Within a wood he saw beneath a shadeM
And near the stream asleep and quite aloneJ
Antoinetta whom he wished his ownJ
He near her drew and waked her with surpriseC
The change ne'er struck her when she ope'd her eyesC
The gay gallant advantage quickly tookS2
And what he wished soon placed within his hookS2
'Tis said he found her better than at firstT2
Why so you ask was she then at the worstT2
A curious question truly you've designedF
In Cupid's am'rous code of laws you'll findF
Bread got by stealth and eat where none can spyP2
Is better far than what you bake or buyP2
For proof of this ask those most learn'd in loveU2
Truth we prefer all other things aboveU2
Yet Hymen and the god of soft desireV2
How much soe'er their union we admireW2
Are not designed together bread to bakeZ
In proof the sleeping scene for instance takeZ
Good cheer was there each dish was served with tasteX2
The god of love who often cooks in hasteX2
Most nicely seasoned things to relish wellN2
In this he's thought old Hymen to excelN2
-
ANTOINETTA to his clasp restoredY2
Our neighbour Stephen who his wife adoredY2
Quite raw howe'er in this exclaimed apartZ2
Friend Giles has surely got some secret artZ2
For now my rib displays superior charmsA3
To what she had before she left my armsA3
Let's take her back and play the Norman trickB3
Deny the whole and by our priv'lege stickB3
-
IMMEDIATELY he ev'ry effort triedC2
To get the bargain fully set asideC2
Giles much distressed exerted all his mightC3
To keep his prize and prove his conduct rightC3
The cause was carried to the bishop's courtD3
Much noise it made according to reportD3
At length the parliament would hear the claimG
And judge a case of such peculiar fameG
-
THE village lawyer Oudinet was broughtE3
From him who drew the contract truth was soughtE3
There rests the cause for 'tis of recent dateF3
While undecided more we cannot stateF3
-
HOW silly neighbour Stephen must appearD2
He went against his int'rest now 'tis clearD2
For when superior pleasure he was shownJ
The fascinating fair was not his ownJ
Good sense would whisper then 'twere full as wellN2
To let remain with Giles the beauteous belleN2
Save now and then within the leafy shadeM
Where oft Antoinetta visits madeM
And warbled to the shrubs and trees aroundG3
There he might easily the nymph have foundG3
But if with ease it could not be obtainedG2
Still greater pleasure he would then have gainedG2
-
GO preach me this to silly country loutsH3
These howsoe'er had managed well their boutsH3
It must not be denied and all was niceT
To do the like perhaps 'twill some enticeT
I much regret my lot was not the sameG
Though doubtE2

Jean De La Fontaine



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