The Confessor, A Sanctified Tale Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABACCBDDEEFF GFDFBBHHII AAJJKKAALFLFCCLMLMNL NLFFOOFF PAPAQAQAAFACCAAF ARRMMAFFFFLLAAMAAM AAAAAAFFSSAA AAAAMMAAAAAAFF AAFF| When 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
(1)
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The Confessor, A Sanctified 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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