Deborah's Parrot, A Village Tale Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABACCBDEED EEEECFCFGGHH EIEIEECDDCJJ IEIKLELKMM KKFFDDEENNDDEF OEEOEEPP FFFFQQRSSTFFUU VVFEFEWW FFFFDDQQTR FXFXYFFYEZZEEE FA2FA2B2B2EF A2FA2FC2C2EEFF A2A2YD2YD2FF DFD2D2E2E2F2F2CFFDEE FF EDDKKE| 'Twas in a little western town | A |
| An ancient Maiden dwelt | B |
| Her name was MISS or MISTRESS Brown | A |
| Or DEBORAH or DEBBY She | C |
| Was doom'd a Spinster pure to be | C |
| For soft delights her breast ne'er felt | B |
| Yet she had watchful Ears and Eyes | D |
| For ev'ry youthful neighbour | E |
| And never did she cease to labour | E |
| A tripping female to surprize | D |
| - | |
| And why was she so wond'rous pure | E |
| So stiff so solemn so demure | E |
| Why did she watch with so much care | E |
| The roving youth the wand'ring fair | E |
| The tattler Fame has said that she | C |
| A Spinster's life had long detested | F |
| But 'twas her quiet destiny | C |
| Never to be molested | F |
| And had Miss DEBBY'S form been grac'd | G |
| Fame adds She had not been so chaste | G |
| But since for frailty she would roam | H |
| She ne'er was taught to look at home | H |
| - | |
| Miss DEBBY was of mien demure | E |
| And blush'd like any maid | I |
| She could not saucy man endure | E |
| Lest she should be betray'd | I |
| She never fail'd at dance or fair | E |
| To watch the wily lurcher's snare | E |
| At Church she was a model Godly | C |
| Though sometimes she had other eyes | D |
| Than those uplifted to the skies | D |
| Leering most oddly | C |
| And Scandal ever busy thought | J |
| She rarely practic'd what she taught | J |
| - | |
| Her dress was always stiff brocade | I |
| With laces broad and dear | E |
| Fine Cobwebs that would thinly shade | I |
| Her shrivell'd cheek of sallow hue | K |
| While like a Spider her keen eye | L |
| Which never shed soft pity's tear | E |
| Small holes in others geer could spy | L |
| And microscopic follies prying view | K |
| And sorely vex'd was ev'ry simple thing | M |
| That wander'd near her never tiring sting | M |
| - | |
| Miss DEBBY had a PARROT who | K |
| If Fame speaks true | K |
| Could prate and tell what neighbours did | F |
| And yet the saucy rogue was never chid | F |
| Sometimes he talk'd of roving Spouses | D |
| Who wander'd from their quiet houses | D |
| Sometimes he call'd a Spinster pure | E |
| By names that Virtue can't indure | E |
| And sometimes told an ancient Dame | N |
| Such tales as made her blush with shame | N |
| Then gabbled how a giddy Miss | D |
| Would give the boist'rous Squire a kiss | D |
| But chiefly he was taught to cry | E |
| Who with the Parson toy'd O fie quot | F |
| - | |
| This little joke Miss DEBBY taught him | O |
| To vex a young and pretty neighbour | E |
| But by her scandal zealous labour | E |
| To shame she brought him | O |
| For the Old PARROT like his teacher | E |
| Was but a false and canting preacher | E |
| And many a gamesome pair had sworn | P |
| Such lessons were not to be borne | P |
| - | |
| At last Miss DEBBY sore was flouted | F |
| And by her angry neighbours scouted | F |
| She never knew one hour of rest | F |
| Of ev'ry Saucy Boor the jest | F |
| The young despis'd her and the Sage | Q |
| Look'd back on Time's impartial page | Q |
| They knew that youth was giv'n to prove | R |
| The season of extatic joy | S |
| That none but Cynics would destroy | S |
| The early buds of Love | T |
| They also knew that DEBBY sigh'd | F |
| For charms that envious Time deny'd | F |
| That she was vex'd with jealous Spleen | U |
| That Hymen pass'd her by unseen | U |
| - | |
| For though the Spinster's wealth was known | V |
| Gold will not purchase Love alone | V |
| She and her PARROT now were thought | F |
| The torments of their little Sphere | E |
| He because mischievously taught | F |
| And She because a maid austere | E |
| In short she deem'd it wise to leave | W |
| A Place where none remain'd to grieve | W |
| - | |
| Soon to a distant town remov'd | F |
| Miss DEBBY'S gold an husband bought | F |
| And all she had her PARROT taught | F |
| Her PARROT now no more belov'd | F |
| Was quite forgotten But alas | D |
| As Fate would have it come to pass | D |
| Her Spouse was giv'n to jealous rage | Q |
| For both in Person and in Age | Q |
| He was the partner of his love | T |
| Ordain'd her second Self to prove | R |
| - | |
| One day Old JENKINS had been out | F |
| With merry friends to dine | X |
| And freely talking had no doubt | F |
| Been also free with wine | X |
| One said of all the wanton gay | Y |
| In the whole parish search it round | F |
| None like the PARSON could be found | F |
| Where a frail Maid was in the way | Y |
| Another thought the Parson sure | E |
| To win the heart of maid or wife | Z |
| And would have freely pledg'd his life | Z |
| That young or old or rich or poor | E |
| None could defy | E |
| The magic of his roving eye | E |
| - | |
| JENKINS went home but all the night | F |
| He dream'd of this strange tale | A2 |
| Yet bless'd his stars with proud delight | F |
| His partner was not young nor frail | A2 |
| Next morning at the breakfast table | B2 |
| The PARROT loud as he was able | B2 |
| Was heard repeatedly to cry | E |
| Who with the Parson toy'd O fie quot | F |
| - | |
| Old JENKINS listen'd and grew pale | A2 |
| The PARROT then more loudly scream'd | F |
| And MISTRESS JENKINS heard the tale | A2 |
| And much alarm'd she seem'd | F |
| Trembling she tried to stop his breath | C2 |
| Her lips and cheek as pale as death | C2 |
| The more she trembled still the more | E |
| Old JENKINS view'd her o'er and o'er | E |
| And now her yellow cheek was spread | F |
| With blushes of the deepest red | F |
| - | |
| And now again the PARROT'S Tale | A2 |
| Made his old Tutoress doubly pale | A2 |
| For cowardice and guilt they say | Y |
| Are the twin brothers of the soul | D2 |
| So MISTRESS JENKINS her dismay | Y |
| Could not controul | D2 |
| While the accuser now grown bold | F |
| Thrice o'er the tale of mischief told | F |
| - | |
| Now JENKINS from the table rose | D |
| quot Who with the Parson toy'd quot he cried | F |
| quot So MISTRESS FRAILTY you must play | D2 |
| quot And sport your wanton hours away | D2 |
| quot And with your gold a pretty joke | E2 |
| quot You thought to buy a pleasant cloak | E2 |
| quot A screen to hide your shame but know | F2 |
| quot I will not blind to ruin go | F2 |
| quot I am no modern Spouse dy'e see | C |
| quot Gold will not gild disgrace with me quot | F |
| Some say he seiz'd his fearful bride | F |
| And came to blows | D |
| Day after day the contest dire | E |
| Augmented with resistless ire | E |
| And many a drubbing DEBBY bought | F |
| For mischief she her PARROT taught | F |
| - | |
| Thus SLANDER turns against its maker | E |
| And if this little Story reaches | D |
| A SPINSTER who her PARROT teaches | D |
| Let her a better task pursue | K |
| And here the certain VENGEANCE view | K |
| Which surely will in TIME O'ERTAKE HER | E |
Mary Darby Robinson
(1)
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Deborah's Parrot, A Village Tale is a poem by Mary Darby Robinson. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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