Preludes To A Penny Reading Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B C D E FG HI J KL MN OP Q R P S B T U VWX B W Y ZP A2B2C2D2E2RG F2G2 X H2TI2J2VK2 L2A2KVM2L2 J2 J2 N2 O2 PP2KP Q2R2 S2O2T2 IU2V2W2X2 Y2C Z2A3B3 IC3G W GD3PE3P A W F3G3H3I3RJ3L2E3 E2O2P D3 PK3PL3 M3 N3 O3P3 PSQ3R3FS3T3R3L2A3U3V 3G3 W3X3Y3Z3A4FB4V2 IG3U3O2C4D4E4F F4IG4 H4 M3 D2 I4KI4KJ4KKJ4PK4PK4PR RR D2 VL4VL4IM4IM4 D2 XD2N4 N4D2XD2N4RRR M3R A2J2B4H4 O4Z3PO2P4Q4IFS2 R2 H4VM3R4IP4R J2X3S4T4IU4 V4 B3W4B3 X4Y4 Y4 Z4Z4 T3T3 O2TO2T I VM3 R4 N2R4PPW E2E2FM2Y4D2E2L2PR E2 PIPI Z3K2Z3K2PE2M4E2 D2O2D2O2O2R4O2R4 PE2M4E2 J2M4RS2 P E2V4 PE2F4I V4 M3 D2 XPPK2A4E2A4PPPA4 D2 M4IO2V4V4T3PPPT3 D2 E2VIVO2A4Y3A4PPPA4 PE2 P E2E2 L2 V4 A4Y3 N3 U4 D2 O2O2O2M4M4M4T3T3T3B3 B3B3PPP D2 IIE2IE2M4M4M4VVVPPPF 4F4 E2 U4 E2E2E2E2R4 F4O2F4O2 Y4O2F4O2 VR4F4R4 R4R4R4R4R4 F4E2 J2PPE2 U4 PPI2PP PPP P PPPPP PT4P E2XF V VSE2G2 E2 P PPHHHF4F4F4E2F4 P E2E2E2F4F4F4E2F4 P PPZ3Z3Z3F4F4F4E2F4 E2 PVH4 E2 E2 F4Z4YN3 A3E2 PE2R4P E2 F4

A SchoolroomA
-
SCHOOLMASTER not certificated VICAR and CHILDB
-
VICAR Why did you send for me I hope all's rightC
-
Schoolmaster Well sir we thought this end o' the room was darkD
-
V Indeed So 't is There's my new study lampE
-
S 'T would stand sir well beside yon laurel wreathF
Shall I go fetch itG
-
V Do we must not failH
Bring candles alsoI
-
Exit Schoolmaster Vicar arranges chairsJ
-
Now small six years oldK
And why may you be hereL
-
Child I'm helping fatherM
But father why d'you take such painsN
-
V Sweet soulO
That's what I'm forP
-
C What and for nothing elseQ
-
V Yes I'm to bring thee up to be a manR
-
C And what am I forP
-
V There I'm busy nowS
-
C Am I to bring you up to be a childB
-
V Perhaps Indeed I have heard it said thou artT
-
C Then when may I beginU
-
V I'm busy I sayV
Begin to morrow an thou canst my sonW
And mind to do it wellX
-
Exit Vicar and ChildB
-
Enter a group of women and some childrenW
-
Mrs Thorpe Fine lot o' lightsY
-
Mrs Jillifer Should be Would folk put on their Sunday best I' the week unless they looked to have it seenZ
What you here neighbourP
-
Mrs Smith Ay you may say thatA2
Old Madam called said she 'My son would feelB2
So sorry if you did not come ' and slippedC2
The penny in my hand she did said ID2
'Ma'am that's not it In short some say your lastE2
Was worth the penny and more I know a manR
A sober man who said and stuck to itG
Worth a good twopence But I'm strange I'm shy '-
'We hope you'll come for once ' said she In shortF2
I said I would to oblige 'emG2
-
Mrs Green Ah 't was wellX
-
Mrs S But I feel strange and music gets i' my throatH2
It always did And singers be so smartT
Ladies and folk from other parishesI2
Candles and cheering greens and flowers and allJ2
I was not used to such in my young dayV
We kept ourselves at homeK2
-
Mrs J Never say 'used '-
The most of us have many a thing to doL2
We were not used to If you come to thatA2
Why none of us are used to growing oldK
It takes us by surprise as one may sayV
That work when we begin 't and yet 't is workM2
That all of us must doL2
-
Mrs G Nay nay not allJ2
-
Mrs J I ask your pardon neighbour you be right Not allJ2
-
Mrs G And my sweet maid scarce three months deadN2
-
Mrs J I ask your pardon trulyO2
-
Mrs G No my dearP
Thou'lt never see old days I cannot stintP2
To fret the maiden was but twelve years oldK
So toward such a scholarP
-
Mrs S Ay when GodQ2
That knows comes down to choose He'll take the bestR2
-
Mrs T But I'm right glad you came it pleases themS2
My son that loves his book 'Mother ' said heO2
'Go to the Reading when you have a chanceT2
For there you get a change and you see life '-
But Reading or no Reading I am slowI
To learn When parson after comes his roundsU2
'Did it ' to ask with a persuading smileV2
'Open your mind ' the woman doth not liveW2
Feels more a foolX2
-
Mrs J I always tell him 'Yes '-
For he means well Ay and I like the songsY2
Have you heard say what they shall read to nightC
-
Mrs S Neighbour I hear 'tis something of the EastZ2
But what I ask you is the East to usA3
And where d'ye think it liesB3
-
Mrs J The children knowI
At least they say they do there's nothing deepC3
Nor nothing strange but they get hold on itG
-
Enter Schoolmaster and a dozen childrenW
-
S Now ladies ladies you must please to sitG
More close the room fills fast and all these ladsD3
And maidens either have to sing beforeP
The Reading or else after By your leaveE3
I'll have them in the front I want them hereP
-
The women make roomA
-
Enter ploughmen villagers servants and childrenW
-
And mark me boys if I hear cracking o' nutsF3
Or see you flicking acorns and what notG3
While folks from other parishes observeH3
You'll hear on it when you don't look to TomI3
And Jemmy and Roger sing as loud's ye canR
Sing as the maidens do are they afraidJ3
And now I'm stationed handy facing youL2
Friends all I'll drop a word by your good leaveE3
-
Young ploughman Do master do we like your words a vastE2
Though there be nought to back 'em up ye seeO2
As when we were smallerP
-
S Mark me then my ladsD3
When Lady Laura sang 'I don't think much '-
Says her fine coachman 'of your manners hereP
We drove eleven miles in the dark it rainedK3
And ruts in your cross roads are deep We're hereP
My lady sings they sit all open mouthedL3
And when she's done they never give one cheer '-
-
Old man Be folks to clap if they don't like the songM3
-
S Certain for mannersN3
-
Enter VICAR wife various friends with violins and a fluteO3
They come to a piano and one begins softly to tune his violin while the Vicar speaksP3
-
V Friends since there is a place where you must hearP
When I stand up to speak I would not nowS
If there were any other found to bidQ3
You welcome Welcome then these with me askR3
No better than to please and in good soothF
I ever find you willing to be pleasedS3
When I demand not more but when we fainT3
Would lead you to some knowledge fresh and askR3
Your careful heed I hear that some of youL2
Have said 'What good to know what good to usA3
He puts us all to school and our school daysU3
Should be at end Nay if they needs must teachV3
Then let them teach us what shall mend our lotG3
The laws are strict on us the world is hard '-
You friends and neighbours may I dare to speakW3
I know the laws are strict and the world hardX3
For ever will the world help that man upY3
That is already coming up and stillZ3
And ever help him down that's going downA4
Yet say 'I will take the words out of thy mouthF
O world being yet more strict with mine own lifeB4
Thou law to gaze shall not be worth thy whileV2
On whom beyond thy power doth rule himself '-
Yet seek to know for whoso seek to knowI
They seek to rise and best they mend their lotG3
Methinks if Adam and Eve in their garden daysU3
Had scorned the serpent and obedientlyO2
Continued God's good children He HimselfC4
Had led them to the Tree of Knowledge soonD4
And bid them eat the fruit thereof and yetE4
Not find it apples of deathF
-
Vicar's wife aside Now dearest JohnF4
We're ready Lucky too you always goI
Above the people's headsG4
-
Young farmer stands forward Vicar presenting himH4
-
-
SONGM3
-
ID2
-
Sparkle of snow and of frostI4
Blythe air and the joy of coldK
Their grace and good they have lostI4
As print o' her foot by the foldK
Let me back to yon desert sandJ4
Rose lipped love from the foldK
Flower fair girl from the foldK
Let me back to the sultry landJ4
The world is empty of cheerP
Forlorn forlorn and forlornK4
As the night owl's sob of fearP
As Memnon moaning at mornK4
For love of thee my dearP
I have lived a better manR
O my Mary AnneR
My Mary AnneR
-
IID2
-
Away away and awayV
To an old palm land of tombsL4
Washed clear of our yesterdayV
And where never a snowdrop bloomsL4
Nor wild becks talk as they goI
Of tender hope we had knownM4
Nor mosses of memory growI
All over the wayside stoneM4
-
IIID2
-
Farewell farewell and farewellX
As voice of a lover's sighD2
In the wind let yon willow waveN4
'Farewell farewell and farewell '-
The sparkling frost stars braveN4
On thy shrouded bosom lieD2
Thou art gone apart to dwellX
But I fain would have said good byeD2
For love of thee in thy graveN4
I have lived a better manR
O my Mary AnneR
My Mary AnneR
-
-
Mrs Thorpe aside O hearts why what a songM3
To think on it and he a married manR
-
Mrs Jillifer aside Bless you that makes for nothing nothing atA2
allJ2
They take no heed upon the words His wifeB4
Look you as pleased as may be smiles on himH4
-
Mrs T aside Neighbours there's one thing beats me We've enoughO4
O' trouble in the world I've cried my fillZ3
Many and many a time by my own fireP
Now why I'll ask you should it comfort meO2
And ease my heart when pitiful and sweetP4
One sings of other souls and how they mournedQ4
A body would have thought that did not knowI
Songs must be merry full of feast and mirthF
Or else would all folk flee away from themS2
-
Mrs S aside 'Tis strange and I too love the sad ones bestR2
-
Mrs T aside Ay how they clap himH4
'Tis as who should sayV
Sing we were pleased sing us another songM3
As if they did not know he loves to singR4
Well may he not an organ pipe they blowI
On Sunday in the church is half so sweetP4
But he's a hard manR
-
Mrs J aside Mark me neighbours allJ2
Hard though he be ay and the mistress hardX3
If he do sing 'twill be a sorrowfulS4
Sad tale of sweethearts that shall make you wishT4
Your own time would come over again althoughI
Were partings in 't and tears Hist now he singsU4
-
Young farmer sings againV4
-
-
'Come hither come hither ' The broom was in blossom all over yon riseB3
There went a wide murmur of brown bees about it with songs from the woodW4
'We shall never be younger O love let us forth for the world 'neath our eyesB3
Ay the world is made young e'en as we and right fair is her youth and right good '-
-
Then there fell the great yearning upon me that never yet went into wordsX4
While lovesome and moansome thereon spake and falter'd the dove to the doveY4
And I came at her calling 'Inherit inherit and sing with the birds '-
I went up to the wood with the child of my heart and the wife of my loveY4
-
O pure O pathetic Wild hyacinths drank it the dream light apaceZ4
Not a leaf moved at all 'neath the blue they hung waiting for messages kind
Tall cherry trees dropped their white blossom that drifted no whit from its placeZ4
For the south very far out to sea had the lulling low voice of the wind
-
And the child's dancing foot gave us part in the ravishment almost a painT3
An infinite tremor of life a fond murmur that cried out on time
Ah short must all end in the doing and spend itself sweetly in vainT3
And the promise be only fulfilment to lean from the height of its prime
-
'We shall never be younger ' nay mock me not fancy none call from yon treeO2
They have thrown me the world they went over went up and alas For my partT
I am left to grow old and to grieve and to change but they change not with meO2
They will never be older the child of my love and the wife of my heartT
-
-
Mrs J I told you soI
-
Mrs T aside That did you neighbour AyV
Partings said you and tears I liked the songM3
-
Mrs G Who be these coming to the front to singR4
-
Mrs J aside Why neighbour these be sweethearts so 'tis saidN2
And there was much ado to make her singR4
She would and would not and he wanted herP
And mayhap wanted to be seen with herP
'Tis Tomlin's pretty maid his only oneW
-
Mrs G aside I did not know the maid so fair she looks
-
Mrs J aside He's a right proper man she has at lastE2
Walks over many a mile and counts them noughtE2
To court her after work hours that he dothF
Not like her other why he'd let his workM2
Go all to wrack and lay it to his loveY4
While he would sit and look and look and sighD2
Her father sent him to the right aboutE2
'If love ' said he 'won't make a man of youL2
Why nothing will 'Tis mainly that love's forP
The right sort makes ' said he 'a lad a manR
The wrong sort makes ' said he 'a man a fool '-
-
Vicar presents a young man and a girl
-
-
DUETE2
-
She While he dreams mine old grand sireP
And yon red logs glowI
Honey whisper by the fireP
Whisper honey lowI
-
He Honey high's yon weary hillZ3
Stiff's yon weary loamK2
Lacks the work o' my goodwillZ3
Fain I'd take thee homeK2
O how much longer and longer and longerP
An' how much longer shall the waiting lastE2
Berries red are grown April birds are flownM4
Martinmas gone over ay and harvest pastE2
-
She Honey bide the time's awryD2
Bide awhile let beO2
He Take my wage then lay it byD2
Till 't come back with theeO2
The red money the white moneyO2
Both to thee I bringR4
She Bring ye ought beside honeyO2
He Honey ay the ringR4
-
Duet But how much longer and longer and longerP
O how much longer shall the waiting lastE2
Berries red are grown April birds are flownM4
Martinmas gone over and the harvest pastE2
-
-
Applause
-
Mrs S aside O she's a pretty maid and sings so smallJ2
And high 'tis like a flute And she must blush
Till all her face is roses newly blownM4
How folks do clap She knows not where to look
There now she's off he standing like a manR
To face themS2
-
Mrs G aside Makes his bow and after herP
But what's the good of clapping when they're gone
-
Mrs T aside Why 'tis a London fashion as I'm toldE2
And means they'd have 'em back to sing againV4
-
Mrs J aside Neighbours look where her father red as fireP
Sits pleased and 'shamed smoothing his Sunday hatE2
And Parson bustles out Clap on clap onF4
Coming Not she There comes her sweetheart thoughI
-
Vicar presents the young man againV4
-
-
SONGM3
-
ID2
-
Rain clouds flew beyond the fellX
No more did thunders lowerP
Patter patter on the beck
Dropt a clearing showerP
Eddying floats of creamy foamK2
Flecked the waters brownA4
As we rode up to cross the fordE2
Rode up from yonder townA4
Waiting on the weatherP
She and I togetherP
Waiting on the weatherP
Till the flood went downA4
-
IID2
-
The sun came out the wet leaf shoneM4
Dripped the wild wood vine
Betide me well betide me woeI
That hour's for ever mine
With thee Mary with thee MaryO2
Full oft I pace againV4
Asleep awake up yonder glenV4
And hold thy bridle reinT3
Waiting on the weatherP
Thou and I togetherP
Waiting on the weatherP
Till the flood shall waneT3
-
IIID2
-
And who though hope did come to noughtE2
Would memory give awayV
I lighted down she leaned full lowI
Nor chid that hour's delayV
With thee Mary with thee MaryO2
Methought my life to crownA4
But we ride up but we ride upY3
No more from yonder townA4
Waiting on the weatherP
Thou and I togetherP
Waiting on the weatherP
Till the flood go downA4
-
-
Mrs J aside Well very well but what of fiddler Sam
I ask you neighbours if't be not his turn
An honest man and ever pays his scoreP
Born in the parish old blind as a batE2
And strangers sing before him 't is a shame
-
Mrs S aside Ay but his daughterP
-
Mrs J aside Why the maid's a maidE2
One would not set to guide the chant in church
But when she sings to earn her father's breadE2
The mildest mother's son may cry 'Amen '-
-
Mrs S aside They say he plays not always trueL2
-
Mrs J aside What thenV4
-
Mrs T aside Here comes my lady She's too fat by half
For love songs O the lace upon her gownA4
I wish I had the getting of it upY3
'T would be a pretty penny in my pouch
-
Mrs J aside Be quiet now for mannersN3
-
Vicar presents a lady who singsU4
-
-
ID2
-
Dark flocks of wildfowl riding out the storm
Upon a pitching seaO2
Beyond grey rollers vex'd that rear and form
When piping winds urge on their destinyO2
To fall back ruined in white continuallyO2
And I at our trysting stoneM4
Whereto I came down aloneM4
Was fain o' the wind's wild moanM4
O welcome were wrack and were rainT3
And beat of the battling mainT3
For the sake of love's sweet painT3
For the smile in two brown eyesB3
For the love in any wiseB3
To bide though the last day diesB3
For a hand on my wet hairP
For a kiss e'en yet I wearP
For bonny Jock was thereP
-
IID2
-
Pale precipices while the sun lay lowI
Tinct faintly of the rose
And mountain islands mirror'd in a flowI
Forgotten of all winds their manifoldE2
Peaks reared into the glory and the glowI
Floated in purple and goldE2
And I o'er the rocks aloneM4
Of a shore all silent grownM4
Came down to our trysting stoneM4
And sighed when the solemn rayV
Paled in the wake o' the dayV
'Wellaway wellawayV
Comfort is not by the shoreP
Going the gold that it woreP
Purple and rose are no moreP
World and waters are wanF4
And night will be here anonF4
And bonny Jock's gone '-
-
-
Moderate applause and calls for fiddler Sam
-
Mrs Jillifer aside Now neighbours call again and be not shamedE2
Stand by the parish and the parish folk
Them that are poor I told you here he comes
Parson looks glum but brings him and his girl
-
The fiddler Sam plays and his daughter singsU4
-
-
Touch the sweet string Fly forth my heartE2
Upon the music like a birdE2
The silvery notes shall add their partE2
And haply yet thou shalt be heardE2
Touch the sweet stringR4
-
The youngest wren of nineF4
Dimpled dark and merryO2
Brown her locks and her two eyneF4
Browner than a berryO2
-
When I was not in loveY4
Maidens met I manyO2
Under sun now walks but oneF4
Nor others mark I anyO2
-
Twin lambs a mild eyed eweV
That would her follow bleatingR4
A heifer white as snowF4
I'll give to my sweet sweetingR4
-
Touch the sweet string If yet too youngR4
O love of loves for this my songR4
I'll pray thee count it all unsungR4
And wait thy leisure wait it longR4
Touch the sweet stringR4
-
-
Much applause
-
Vicar You hear them Sam You needs must play againF4
Your neighbours ask itE2
-
Fiddler Thank ye neighbours allJ2
I have my feelings though I be but poorP
I've tanged the fiddle here this forty yearP
And I should know the trick on 'tE2
-
The fiddler plays and his daughter singsU4
-
-
For ExmoorP
For Exmoor where the red deer run my weary heart doth cryP
She that will a rover wed far her foot shall hisI2
Narrow narrow shows the street dull the narrow skyP
Buy my cherries whiteheart cherries good my masters buyP
-
For ExmoorP
O he left me left alone aye to think and sighP
'Lambs feed down yon sunny coombe hind and yearling shyP
Mid the shrouding vapours walk now like ghosts on high '-
Buy my cherries blackheart cherries lads and lassies buyP
-
For ExmoorP
Dear my dear why did ye so Evil days have IP
Mark no more the antler'd stag hear the curlew cryP
Milking at my father's gate while he leans anighP
Buy my cherries whiteheart blackheart golden girls O buyP
-
-
Mrs T aside I've known him play that Exmoor song aforeP
'Ah me and I'm from Exmoor I could wishT4
To hear 't no moreP
-
Mrs S aside Neighbours 't is mighty hotE2
Ay now they throw the window up that's wellX
A body could not breatheF
-
-
The fiddler and his daughter go awayV
-
Mrs Jillifer aside They'll hear no parson's preaching no not theyV
But innocenter songs I do allowS
They could not well have sung than these to nightE2
That man knows just so well as if he saw
They were not welcomeG2
-
The Vicar stands up on the point of beginning to read when the tuning and twang of the fiddle is heard close outside the open window and the daughter sings in a clear cheerful voice A little tittering is heard in the room and the Vicar pauses discomfitedE2
-
-
IP
-
O my heart what a coil is hereP
Laurie why will ye hold me dearP
Laurie Laurie lad make not wailH
With a wiser lass ye'll sure prevailH
For ye sing like a woodland nightingaleH
And there's no sense in it under the sunF4
For of three that woo I can take but oneF4
So what's to be done what's to be doneF4
AndE2
There's no sense in it under the sunF4
-
IIP
-
Hal brave Hal from your foreign parts
Come home you'll choose among kinder hearts
Forget forget you're too good to holdE2
A fancy 't were best should faint grow coldE2
And fade like an August marigoldE2
For of three that woo I can take but oneF4
And what's to be done what's to be doneF4
There's no sense in it under the sunF4
AndE2
Of three that woo I can take but oneF4
-
IIIP
-
Geordie Geordie I count you trueP
Though language sweet I have none for youP
Nay but take me home to the churning millZ3
When cherry boughs white on yon mounting hillZ3
Hang over the tufts o' the daffodilZ3
For what's to be done what's to be doneF4
Of three that woo I must e'en take oneF4
Or there's no sense in it under the sunF4
AndE2
What's to be done what's to be doneF4
-
V aside What's to be done indeedE2
-
Wife aside Done nothing loveP
Either the thing has done itself or theyV
Must undo Did they call for fiddler Sam
Well now they have himH4
-
-
More tuning heard outsideE2
-
Mrs J aside Live and let live's my mottoE2
-
Mrs T So 't is mineF4
Who's Sam that he must fly in Parson's faceZ4
He's had his turn He never gave these lightsY
Cut his best flowersN3
-
Mrs S aside He takes no pride in usA3
Speak up good neighbour get the window shutE2
-
Mrs J rising I ask your pardon truly that I doP
La but the window there's a parlous draughtE2
The window punishes rheumatic folkR4
We'd have it shut sirP
-
Others Truly that we wouldE2
-
V Certainly certainly my friends you shall
-
The window is shut and the Reading begins amid marked attentionF4

Jean Ingelow



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