Deborah's Parrot, A Village Tale Poem Rhyme Scheme

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'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

Deborah's Parrot, A Village Tale Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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