A Fable Of The Lion And Other Beasts Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABCDDEEFFGHIJKLMNOP QQEEHHRRSTHHUHVVWWXX YYHHZA2HHHYPPOOYYAAY YB2B2C2C2YYD2D2C2C2

One time a mighty plague did pesterA
All beasts domestic and sylvesterA
The doctors all in concert join'dB
To see if they the cause could findC
And tried a world of remediesD
But none could conquer the diseaseD
The lion in this consternationE
Sends out his royal proclamationE
To all his loving subjects greetingF
Appointing them a solemn meetingF
And when they're gather'd round his denG
He spoke My lords and gentlemenH
I hope you're met full of the senseI
Of this devouring pestilenceJ
For sure such heavy punishmentK
On common crimes is rarely sentL
It must be some important causeM
Some great infraction of the lawsN
Then let us search our consciencesO
And every one his faults confessP
Let's judge from biggest to the leastQ
That he that is the foulest beastQ
May for a sacrifice be givenE
To stop the wrath of angry HeavenE
And since no one is free from sinH
I with myself will first beginH
I have done many a thing that's illR
From a propensity to killR
Slain many an ox and what is worseS
Have murder'd many a gallant horseT
Robb'd woods and fens and like a gluttonH
Devour'd whole flocks of lamb and muttonH
Nay sometimes for I dare not lieU
The shepherd went for companyH
He had gone on but Chancellor FoxV
Stands up What signifies an oxV
What signifies a horse Such thingsW
Are honour'd when made sport for kingsW
Then for the sheep those foolish cattleX
Not fit for courage or for battleX
And being tolerable meatY
They're good for nothing but to eatY
The shepherd too young enemyH
Deserves no better destinyH
Sir sir your conscience is too niceZ
Hunting's a princely exerciseA2
And those being all your subjects bornH
Just when you please are to be tornH
And sir if this will not content yeH
We'll vote it nemine contradicenteY
Thus after him they all confessP
They had been rogues some more some lessP
And yet by little slight excusesO
They all get clear of great abusesO
The Bear the Tiger beasts of flightY
And all that could but scratch and biteY
Nay e'en the Cat of wicked natureA
That kills in sport her fellow creatureA
Went scot free but his gravityY
An ass of stupid memoryY
Confess'd as he went to a fairB2
His back half broke with wooden wareB2
Chancing unluckily to passC2
By a church yard full of good grassC2
Finding they'd open left the gateY
He ventured in stoop'd down and ateY
Hold says Judge Wolf such are the crimesD2
Have brought upon us these sad timesD2
'Twas sacrilege and this vile assC2
Shall die for eating holy grassC2

Jonathan Swift



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