An Epitaph Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ KLLLMNOOLLLLLLLLPPLL QGRRLLSSTTLLLLLLUUSH LL

Interr'd beneath this marble stoneA
Lie saunt'ring Jack and idle JoanA
While rolling threescore years and oneB
Did round this globe their courses runB
If human things went ill or wellC
If changing empires rose or fellC
The morning passed the evening cameD
And found this couple still the sameD
They walk'd and eat good folks what thenE
Why then they walk'd and eat againE
They soundly slept the night awayF
They did just nothing all the dayF
And having buried children fourG
Would not take pains to try for moreG
Nor sister either had nor brotherH
They seemed just tallied for each otherH
Their moral and economyI
Most perfectly they made agreeI
Each virtue kept its proper boundJ
Nor tresspass'd on the other's groundJ
Nor fame nor censure they regardedK
They neither punish'd nor rewardedL
He cared not what the footmen didL
Her maids she neither prais'd nor chidL
So ev'ry servant took his courseM
And bad at first they all grew worseN
Slothful disorder fill'd his stableO
And sluttish plenty deck'd her tableO
Their beer was strong their wine was portL
Their meal was large their grace was shortL
They gave the poor the remnant meatL
Just when it grew not fit to eatL
They paid the church and parish rateL
And took but read not the receiptL
For which they claim'd their Sunday's dueL
Of slumb'ring in an upper pewL
No man's defects sought they to knowP
So never made themselves a foeP
No man's good deeds did they commendL
So never rais'd themselves a friendL
Nor cherish'd they relations poorQ
That might decrease their present storeG
Nor barn nor house did they repairR
That might oblige their future heirR
They neither added nor confoundedL
They neither wanted nor aboundedL
Each Christmas they accompts did clearS
And wound their bottom through the yearS
Nor tear nor smile did they employT
At news of public grief or joyT
When bells were rung and bonfires madeL
If asked they ne'er denied their aidL
Their jug was to the ringers carriedL
Whoever either died or marriedL
Their billet at the fire was foundL
Whoever was depos'd or crown'dL
Nor good nor bad nor fools nor wiseU
They would not learn nor could adviseU
Without love hatred joy or fearS
They led a kind of as it wereH
Nor wish'd nor car'd nor laugh'd nor cry'dL
And so they liv'd and so they diedL

Matthew Prior



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