A Fable Of The Lion And Other Beasts Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABCDDEEFFGHIJKLMNOP QQEEHHRRSTHHUHVVWWXX YYHHZA2HHHYPPOOYYAAY YB2B2C2C2YYD2D2C2C2One time a mighty plague did pester | A |
All beasts domestic and sylvester | A |
The doctors all in concert join'd | B |
To see if they the cause could find | C |
And tried a world of remedies | D |
But none could conquer the disease | D |
The lion in this consternation | E |
Sends out his royal proclamation | E |
To all his loving subjects greeting | F |
Appointing them a solemn meeting | F |
And when they're gather'd round his den | G |
He spoke My lords and gentlemen | H |
I hope you're met full of the sense | I |
Of this devouring pestilence | J |
For sure such heavy punishment | K |
On common crimes is rarely sent | L |
It must be some important cause | M |
Some great infraction of the laws | N |
Then let us search our consciences | O |
And every one his faults confess | P |
Let's judge from biggest to the least | Q |
That he that is the foulest beast | Q |
May for a sacrifice be given | E |
To stop the wrath of angry Heaven | E |
And since no one is free from sin | H |
I with myself will first begin | H |
I have done many a thing that's ill | R |
From a propensity to kill | R |
Slain many an ox and what is worse | S |
Have murder'd many a gallant horse | T |
Robb'd woods and fens and like a glutton | H |
Devour'd whole flocks of lamb and mutton | H |
Nay sometimes for I dare not lie | U |
The shepherd went for company | H |
He had gone on but Chancellor Fox | V |
Stands up What signifies an ox | V |
What signifies a horse Such things | W |
Are honour'd when made sport for kings | W |
Then for the sheep those foolish cattle | X |
Not fit for courage or for battle | X |
And being tolerable meat | Y |
They're good for nothing but to eat | Y |
The shepherd too young enemy | H |
Deserves no better destiny | H |
Sir sir your conscience is too nice | Z |
Hunting's a princely exercise | A2 |
And those being all your subjects born | H |
Just when you please are to be torn | H |
And sir if this will not content ye | H |
We'll vote it nemine contradicente | Y |
Thus after him they all confess | P |
They had been rogues some more some less | P |
And yet by little slight excuses | O |
They all get clear of great abuses | O |
The Bear the Tiger beasts of flight | Y |
And all that could but scratch and bite | Y |
Nay e'en the Cat of wicked nature | A |
That kills in sport her fellow creature | A |
Went scot free but his gravity | Y |
An ass of stupid memory | Y |
Confess'd as he went to a fair | B2 |
His back half broke with wooden ware | B2 |
Chancing unluckily to pass | C2 |
By a church yard full of good grass | C2 |
Finding they'd open left the gate | Y |
He ventured in stoop'd down and ate | Y |
Hold says Judge Wolf such are the crimes | D2 |
Have brought upon us these sad times | D2 |
'Twas sacrilege and this vile ass | C2 |
Shall die for eating holy grass | C2 |
Jonathan Swift
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