The Mastiff. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AA BBCCDDEE FFGGEEHHEEHHCCHHIIII HH| Those who in quarrels interpose | A |
| Must often wipe a bloody nose | A |
| - | |
| A mastiff of true English mood | B |
| Loved fighting better than his food | B |
| When dogs were snarling o'er a bone | C |
| He wished to make their war his own | C |
| And often found where two contend | D |
| To interpose obtained his end | D |
| The scars of honour seamed his face | E |
| He deemed his limp endued with grace | E |
| - | |
| Once on a time he heard afar | F |
| Two dogs contend with noisy jar | F |
| Away he scoured to lay about him | G |
| Resolved no fray should be without him | G |
| Forth from the yard which was a tanner's | E |
| The master rushed to teach him manners | E |
| And with the cudgel tanned his hide | H |
| And bullied him with words beside | H |
| Forth from another yard a butcher's | E |
| The master rushed his name was Mutchers | E |
| Why who the deuce are you he cried | H |
| Why do you interfere Bankside | H |
| Has at the Bull pit seen and known | C |
| And Hockleyhole and Marry bone | C |
| That when we go to work we mean it | H |
| Why should you come and intervene it | H |
| So said they dragged the dogs asunder | I |
| And kicks and clubs fell down like thunder | I |
| And parted now and freed from danger | I |
| The curs beheld the meddling stranger | I |
| And where their masters whacked they hurried | H |
| And master mastiff he was worried | H |
John Gay
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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