Baucis And Philemon[1] Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BBAAAAAAAACCDDAAAAEF AAGGHHAAIIAAJJAAAAKK AAAALLAAMMAAGGGNAAOO PPQQAARRSGAAGGAATTAA UUVVWWKKOOAAWWAAGGXX AAYZA2A2B2B2AAC2C2D2 D2B2B2RRE2E2KKAAZZAA AAAAD2D2F2F2D2D2D2D2 G2G2D2D2MMH2H2I2I2AA J2J2AAK2K2KD2AAZZD2D 2AAL2L2KKD2D2AAAA

ON THE EVER LAMENTED LOSS OF THE TWO YEW TREES IN THE PARISH OF CHILTHORNE SOMERSET IMITATED FROM THE EIGHTH BOOK OF OVIDA
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In ancient times as story tellsB
The saints would often leave their cellsB
And stroll about but hide their qualityA
To try good people's hospitalityA
It happen'd on a winter nightA
As authors of the legend writeA
Two brother hermits saints by tradeA
Taking their tour in masqueradeA
Disguis'd in tatter'd habits wentA
To a small village down in KentA
Where in the strollers' canting strainC
They begg'd from door to door in vainC
Try'd ev'ry tone might pity winD
But not a soul would let them inD
Our wand'ring saints in woful stateA
Treated at this ungodly rateA
Having thro' all the village pastA
To a small cottage came at lastA
Where dwelt a good old honest ye'manE
Call'd in the neighbourhood PhilemonF
Who kindly did these saints inviteA
In his poor hut to pass the nightA
And then the hospitable sireG
Bid Goody Baucis mend the fireG
While he from out the chimney tookH
A flitch of bacon off the hookH
And freely from the fattest sideA
Cut out large slices to be fry'dA
Then stepp'd aside to fetch 'em drinkI
Fill'd a large jug up to the brinkI
And saw it fairly twice go roundA
Yet what was wonderful they foundA
'Twas still replenished to the topJ
As if they ne'er had touch'd a dropJ
The good old couple were amaz'dA
And often on each other gaz'dA
For both were frighten'd to the heartA
And just began to cry What artA
Then softly turn'd aside to viewK
Whether the lights were burning blueK
The gentle pilgrims soon aware on'tA
Told them their calling and their errandA
Good folk you need not be afraidA
We are but saints the hermits saidA
No hurt shall come to you or yoursL
But for that pack of churlish boorsL
Not fit to live on Christian groundA
They and their houses shall be drown'dA
While you shall see your cottage riseM
And grow a church before your eyesM
They scarce had spoke when fair and softA
The roof began to mount aloftA
Aloft rose ev'ry beam and rafterG
The heavy wall climb'd slowly afterG
The chimney widen'd and grew higherG
Became a steeple with a spireN
The kettle to the top was hoistA
And there stood fasten'd to a joistA
But with the upside down to showO
Its inclination for belowO
In vain for a superior forceP
Applied at bottom stops its courseP
Doom'd ever in suspense to dwellQ
'Tis now no kettle but a bellQ
A wooden jack which had almostA
Lost by disuse the art to roastA
A sudden alteration feelsR
Increas'd by new intestine wheelsR
And what exalts the wonder moreS
The number made the motion slowerG
The flyer though it had leaden feetA
Turn'd round so quick you scarce could see'tA
But slacken'd by some secret powerG
Now hardly moves an inch an hourG
The jack and chimney near ally'dA
Had never left each other's sideA
The chimney to a steeple grownT
The jack would not be left aloneT
But up against the steeple rear'dA
Became a clock and still adher'dA
And still its love to household caresU
By a shrill voice at noon declaresU
Warning the cookmaid not to burnV
That roast meat which it cannot turnV
The groaning chair began to crawlW
Like an huge snail half up the wallW
There stuck aloft in public viewK
And with small change a pulpit grewK
The porringers that in a rowO
Hung high and made a glitt'ring showO
To a less noble substance chang'dA
Were now but leathern buckets rang'dA
The ballads pasted on the wallW
Of Joan of France and English MallW
Fair Rosamond and Robin HoodA
The little Children in the WoodA
Now seem'd to look abundance betterG
Improved in picture size and letterG
And high in order plac'd describeX
The heraldry of ev'ry tribeX
A bedstead of the antique modeA
Compact of timber many a loadA
Such as our ancestors did useY
Was metamorphos'd into pewsZ
Which still their ancient nature keepA2
By lodging folk disposed to sleepA2
The cottage by such feats as theseB2
Grown to a church by just degreesB2
The hermits then desired their hostA
To ask for what he fancy'd mostA
Philemon having paused a whileC2
Return'd them thanks in homely styleC2
Then said My house is grown so fineD2
Methinks I still would call it mineD2
I'm old and fain would live at easeB2
Make me the parson if you pleaseB2
He spoke and presently he feelsR
His grazier's coat fall down his heelsR
He sees yet hardly can believeE2
About each arm a pudding sleeveE2
His waistcoat to a cassock grewK
And both assumed a sable hueK
But being old continued justA
As threadbare and as full of dustA
His talk was now of tithes and duesZ
Could smoke his pipe and read the newsZ
Knew how to preach old sermons nextA
Vamp'd in the preface and the textA
At christ'nings well could act his partA
And had the service all by heartA
Wish'd women might have children fastA
And thought whose sow had farrow'd lastA
Against dissenters would repineD2
And stood up firm for right divineD2
Found his head fill'd with many a systemF2
But classic authors he ne'er mist 'emF2
Thus having furbish'd up a parsonD2
Dame Baucis next they play'd their farce onD2
Instead of homespun coifs were seenD2
Good pinners edg'd with colberteenD2
Her petticoat transform'd apaceG2
Became black satin flounced with laceG2
Plain Goody would no longer downD2
'Twas Madam in her grogram gownD2
Philemon was in great surpriseM
And hardly could believe his eyesM
Amaz'd to see her look so primH2
And she admir'd as much at himH2
Thus happy in their change of lifeI2
Were several years this man and wifeI2
When on a day which prov'd their lastA
Discoursing o'er old stories pastA
They went by chance amidst their talkJ2
To the churchyard to take a walkJ2
When Baucis hastily cry'd outA
My dear I see your forehead sproutA
Sprout quoth the man what's this you tell usK2
I hope you don't believe me jealousK2
But yet methinks I feel it trueK
And really yours is budding too Nay nowD2
I cannot stir my footA
It feels as if 'twere taking rootA
Description would but tire my MuseZ
In short they both were turn'd to yewsZ
Old Goodman Dobson of the GreenD2
Remembers he the trees has seenD2
He'll talk of them from noon till nightA
And goes with folk to show the sightA
On Sundays after evening prayerL2
He gathers all the parish thereL2
Points out the place of either yewK
Here Baucis there Philemon grewK
Till once a parson of our townD2
To mend his barn cut Baucis downD2
At which 'tis hard to be believ'dA
How much the other tree was griev'dA
Grew scrubby dy'd a top was stuntedA
So the next parson stubb'd and burnt itA

Jonathan Swift



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