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 landA
And Priestcraft shackled ReasonB
At GODSTOW dwelt a goodly bandA
Grey monks they were and but to sayC
They were not always giv'n to prayC
Would have been construed TreasonB
Yet some did scoff and some believ'dD
That sinners were themselves deceiv'dD
And taking Monks for more than menE
They prov'd themselves nine out of tenE
Mere dupes of these Old Fathers hoaryF
But read and mark the storyF
-
Near in a little Farm there liv'dG
A buxom Dame of twenty threeF
And by the neighbours 'twas believ'dD
A very Saint was SheF
Yet ev'ry week for some transgressionB
She went to sigh devout confessionB
For ev'ry trifle seem'd to makeH
Her self reproving Conscience acheH
And Conscience waken'd 'tis well knownI
Will never let the Soul aloneI
-
At GODSTOW 'mid the holy bandA
Old FATHER PETER held commandA
And lusty was the pious manJ
As any of his crafty clanJ
And rosy was his cheek and slyK
The wand'rings of his keen grey eyeK
Yet all the Farmers wives confestA
The wond'rous pow'r this Monk possess'dA
Pow'r to rub out the score of sinL
Which SATAN chalk'd upon his TallyF
To give fresh licence to beginL
And for new scenes of frolic rallyF
For abstinence was not his wayC
He lov'd to live as well as prayC
To prove his gratitude to Heav'nL
By taking freely all its favorsM
And keeping his account still evenL
Still mark'd his best endeavoursM
That is to say He took pure OreN
For benedictions and was knownL
While Reason op'd her golden storeN
Not to unlock his ownL
And often to his cell went heF
With the gay Dame of twenty threeF
His Cell was sacred and the fairO
Well knew that none could enter thereO
Who such was PETER'S sage decreeF
To Paradise ne'er bought a keyF
-
It happen'd that this Farmer's wifeP
Call MISTRESS TWYFORD alias BRIDGETA
Led her poor spouse a weary lifeP
Keeping him in an endless fidgetA
Yet ev'ry week she sought the cellQ
Where Holy FATHER PETER stay'dA
And there did ev'ry secret tellQ
And there at Sun rise knelt and pray'dA
For near there liv'd a civil friendA
Than FARMER TWYFORD somewhat stouterF
And he would oft his counsel lendA
And pass the wintry hours awayC
In harmless playC
But MISTRESS BRIDGET was so chasteA
So much with pious manners grac'dA
That none could doubt herF
-
One night or rather morn 'tis saidA
The wily neighbour chose to roamR
And FARMER TWYFORD far from homeR
He thought he might supply his placeM
And void of ev'ry spark of graceM
Upon HIS pillow rest his headA
The night was cold and FATHER PETERF
Sent his young neighbour to entreat herF
That she would make confession freeF
To Him his saintly deputyF
Now so it happen'd to annoyL
The merry pair a little boyL
The only Son of lovely BridgetA
And like his daddy giv'n to fidgetA
Enquir'd who this same neighbour wasM
That took the place his father leftA
A most unworthy shameless theftA
A sacrilege on marriage lawsM
-
The dame was somewhat disconcertedA
For all that she could say or doA
The boy his question would renewA
Nor from his purpose be divertedA
At length the matter to decideA
'Tis FATHER PETER she repliedA
He's come to pray The child gave o'erF
When a loud thumping at the doorF
Proclaim'd the Husband coming LoS
Where could the wily neighbour goS
Where hide his recreant guilty headA
But underneath the Farmer's bedA
-
NOW MASTER TWYFORD kiss'd his childA
And straight the cunning urchin smil'dA
Hush father hush 'tis break of dayA
And FATHER PETER'S come to prayA
You must not speak the infant criesM
For underneath the bed he liesM
Now MISTRESS TWYFORD shriek'd and faintedA
And the sly neighbour found too lateA
The FARMER than his wife less saintedA
For with his cudgel he repaidA
The kindness of his faithless mateA
And fiercely on his blows he laidA
'Till her young lover vanquish'd sworeF
He'd play THE CONFESSOR no moreF
-
Tho' fraud is ever sure to findA
Its scorpion in the guilty mindA
Yet PIOUS FRAUD the DEVIL'S treasureF
Is always paid in TENFOLD MEASUREF

Mary Darby Robinson



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