The Confessor, A Sanctified Tale Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABACCBDDEEFF GFDFBBHHII AAJJKKAALFLFCCLMLMNL NLFFOOFF PAPAQAQAAFACCAAF ARRMMAFFFFLLAAMAAM AAAAAAFFSSAA AAAAMMAAAAAAFF AAFFWhen SUPERSTITION rul'd the land | A |
And Priestcraft shackled Reason | B |
At GODSTOW dwelt a goodly band | A |
Grey monks they were and but to say | C |
They were not always giv'n to pray | C |
Would have been construed Treason | B |
Yet some did scoff and some believ'd | D |
That sinners were themselves deceiv'd | D |
And taking Monks for more than men | E |
They prov'd themselves nine out of ten | E |
Mere dupes of these Old Fathers hoary | F |
But read and mark the story | F |
- | |
Near in a little Farm there liv'd | G |
A buxom Dame of twenty three | F |
And by the neighbours 'twas believ'd | D |
A very Saint was She | F |
Yet ev'ry week for some transgression | B |
She went to sigh devout confession | B |
For ev'ry trifle seem'd to make | H |
Her self reproving Conscience ache | H |
And Conscience waken'd 'tis well known | I |
Will never let the Soul alone | I |
- | |
At GODSTOW 'mid the holy band | A |
Old FATHER PETER held command | A |
And lusty was the pious man | J |
As any of his crafty clan | J |
And rosy was his cheek and sly | K |
The wand'rings of his keen grey eye | K |
Yet all the Farmers wives confest | A |
The wond'rous pow'r this Monk possess'd | A |
Pow'r to rub out the score of sin | L |
Which SATAN chalk'd upon his Tally | F |
To give fresh licence to begin | L |
And for new scenes of frolic rally | F |
For abstinence was not his way | C |
He lov'd to live as well as pray | C |
To prove his gratitude to Heav'n | L |
By taking freely all its favors | M |
And keeping his account still even | L |
Still mark'd his best endeavours | M |
That is to say He took pure Ore | N |
For benedictions and was known | L |
While Reason op'd her golden store | N |
Not to unlock his own | L |
And often to his cell went he | F |
With the gay Dame of twenty three | F |
His Cell was sacred and the fair | O |
Well knew that none could enter there | O |
Who such was PETER'S sage decree | F |
To Paradise ne'er bought a key | F |
- | |
It happen'd that this Farmer's wife | P |
Call MISTRESS TWYFORD alias BRIDGET | A |
Led her poor spouse a weary life | P |
Keeping him in an endless fidget | A |
Yet ev'ry week she sought the cell | Q |
Where Holy FATHER PETER stay'd | A |
And there did ev'ry secret tell | Q |
And there at Sun rise knelt and pray'd | A |
For near there liv'd a civil friend | A |
Than FARMER TWYFORD somewhat stouter | F |
And he would oft his counsel lend | A |
And pass the wintry hours away | C |
In harmless play | C |
But MISTRESS BRIDGET was so chaste | A |
So much with pious manners grac'd | A |
That none could doubt her | F |
- | |
One night or rather morn 'tis said | A |
The wily neighbour chose to roam | R |
And FARMER TWYFORD far from home | R |
He thought he might supply his place | M |
And void of ev'ry spark of grace | M |
Upon HIS pillow rest his head | A |
The night was cold and FATHER PETER | F |
Sent his young neighbour to entreat her | F |
That she would make confession free | F |
To Him his saintly deputy | F |
Now so it happen'd to annoy | L |
The merry pair a little boy | L |
The only Son of lovely Bridget | A |
And like his daddy giv'n to fidget | A |
Enquir'd who this same neighbour was | M |
That took the place his father left | A |
A most unworthy shameless theft | A |
A sacrilege on marriage laws | M |
- | |
The dame was somewhat disconcerted | A |
For all that she could say or do | A |
The boy his question would renew | A |
Nor from his purpose be diverted | A |
At length the matter to decide | A |
'Tis FATHER PETER she replied | A |
He's come to pray The child gave o'er | F |
When a loud thumping at the door | F |
Proclaim'd the Husband coming Lo | S |
Where could the wily neighbour go | S |
Where hide his recreant guilty head | A |
But underneath the Farmer's bed | A |
- | |
NOW MASTER TWYFORD kiss'd his child | A |
And straight the cunning urchin smil'd | A |
Hush father hush 'tis break of day | A |
And FATHER PETER'S come to pray | A |
You must not speak the infant cries | M |
For underneath the bed he lies | M |
Now MISTRESS TWYFORD shriek'd and fainted | A |
And the sly neighbour found too late | A |
The FARMER than his wife less sainted | A |
For with his cudgel he repaid | A |
The kindness of his faithless mate | A |
And fiercely on his blows he laid | A |
'Till her young lover vanquish'd swore | F |
He'd play THE CONFESSOR no more | F |
- | |
Tho' fraud is ever sure to find | A |
Its scorpion in the guilty mind | A |
Yet PIOUS FRAUD the DEVIL'S treasure | F |
Is always paid in TENFOLD MEASURE | F |
Mary Darby Robinson
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