Hans Carvel Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDD EEBBFFGHIIJJ AAKKLLMM NNOOPPQRSSBBTT UUVVWWKKKKNNXYZZBBVV BBKKKKA2A2 B2B2KKKKC2C2 D2D2E2E2BBF2F2KKBBKK BBBBF2A2NNG2G2 A2A2EEBBKKBBPPXNBBH2 H2 NNBBBBWWBBOLI2J2J2NN EK2 L2L2BBBBNN| Hans Carvel impotent and old | A |
| Married a lass of London mould | A |
| Handsome Enough extremely gay | B |
| Loved music company and play | B |
| High flights she had and wit at will | C |
| And so her tongue lay seldom still | C |
| For in all visits who but she | D |
| To argue or to repartee | D |
| - | |
| She made it plain that human passion | E |
| Was order'd by predestination | E |
| That if weak women went astray | B |
| Their stars were more in fault than they | B |
| Whole tragedies she had by heart | F |
| Enter'd into Roxana's part | F |
| To triumph in her rival's blood | G |
| The action certainly was good | H |
| How like a vine young Ammon curl'd | I |
| Oh that dear conqueror of the world | I |
| She pity'd Betterton in age | J |
| That ridiculed the godlike rage | J |
| - | |
| She first of all the town was told | A |
| Where newest India things were sold | A |
| So in a morning without bodice | K |
| Slipt sometimes out to Mrs Thody's | K |
| To cheapen tea to buy a screen | L |
| What else could so much virtue mean | L |
| For to prevent the least reproach | M |
| Betty went with her in the coach | M |
| - | |
| But when no very great affair | N |
| Excited her peculiar care | N |
| She without fail was waked at ten | O |
| Drank chocolate then slept again | O |
| At twelve she rose with much ado | P |
| Her clothes were huddled on by two | P |
| Then does my lady dine at home | Q |
| Yes sure but is the colonel come | R |
| Next how to spend the afternoon | S |
| And not come home again too soon | S |
| The change the city or the play | B |
| As each was proper for the day | B |
| A turn in summer to Hyde park | T |
| When it grew tolerably dark | T |
| - | |
| Wife's pleasure causes husband's pain | U |
| Strange fancies come in Hans's brain | U |
| He thought of what he did not name | V |
| And would reform but durst not name | V |
| At first he therefore preach'd his wife | W |
| The comforts of a pious life | W |
| Told her how transient beauty was | K |
| That all must die and flesh was grass | K |
| He bought her sermons psalms and graces | K |
| And doubled down the useful places | K |
| But still the weight of worldly care | N |
| Allow'd her little time for prayer | N |
| And Cleopatra was read o'er | X |
| While Scot and Wake and twenty more | Y |
| That teach one to deny one's self | Z |
| Stood unmolested on the shelf | Z |
| An untouch'd bible graced her toilette | B |
| No fear that thumb of hers should spoil it | B |
| In short the trade was still the same | V |
| The dame went out the colonel came | V |
| - | |
| What's to be done poor Carvel cried | B |
| Another battery must be tried | B |
| What if to spells I had recourse | K |
| 'Tis but to hinder something worse | K |
| The end must justify the means | K |
| He only sins who ill intends | K |
| Since therefore 'tis to combat evil | A2 |
| 'Tis lawful to employ the devil | A2 |
| - | |
| Forthwith the devil did appear | B2 |
| For name him and he's always near | B2 |
| Not in the shape in which he plies | K |
| At miss's elbow when she lies | K |
| Or stands before the nursery doors | K |
| To take the naughty boy that roars | K |
| But without tail or eye or claw | C2 |
| Like a grave barrister at law | C2 |
| - | |
| Hans Carvel lay aside your grief | D2 |
| The devil says I bring relief | D2 |
| Relief says Hans pray let me crave | E2 |
| Your name Sir Satan Sir your slave | E2 |
| I did not look upon your feet | B |
| You'll pardon me Ay now I see't | B |
| And pray Sir when came you from hell | F2 |
| Our friends there did you leave them well | F2 |
| All well but pr'ythee honest Hans | K |
| Says Satan leave your complaisance | K |
| The truth is this I cannot stay | B |
| Flaring in sunshine all the day | B |
| For entre nous we hellish sprites | K |
| Love more the fresco of the nights | K |
| And oftener our receipts convey | B |
| In dreams than any other way | B |
| I tell you therefore as a friend | B |
| Ere morning dawns your fears shall end | B |
| Go then this evening Master Carvel | F2 |
| Lay down your fowls and broach your barrel | A2 |
| Let friends and wine dissolve your care | N |
| Whilst I the great receipt prepare | N |
| To night I'll bring it by my faith | G2 |
| Believe for once what Satan saith | G2 |
| - | |
| Away went Hans glad not a little | A2 |
| Obey'd the devil to a tittle | A2 |
| Invited friends some half a dozen | E |
| The colonel and my lady's cousin | E |
| The meat was served the bowls were crown'd | B |
| Catches were sung and healths went round | B |
| Barbadoes' waters for the close | K |
| Till Hans had fairly got his dose | K |
| The colonel toasted to the best | B |
| The dame moved off to be undress'd | B |
| The chimes went twelve the guests withdrew | P |
| But when or how Hans hardly knew | P |
| Some modern anecdotes aver | X |
| He nodded in his elbow chair | N |
| From thence was carried off to bed | B |
| John held his heels and Nan his head | B |
| My lady was disturb'd new sorrow | H2 |
| Which Hans must answer for to morrow | H2 |
| - | |
| In bed then view this happy pair | N |
| And think how Hymen triumph'd there | N |
| Hans fast asleep as soon as laid | B |
| The duty of the night unpaid | B |
| The waking dame with thoughts oppress'd | B |
| That made her hate both him and rest | B |
| By such a husband such a wife | W |
| 'Twas Acme's and Septimius' life | W |
| The lady sigh'd the lover snored | B |
| The punctual devil kept his word | B |
| Appear'd to Honest Hans again | O |
| But not at all by Madam seen | L |
| Fit for the finger of a king | I2 |
| Dear Hans said he this jewel take | J2 |
| And wear it long for Satan's sake | J2 |
| 'Twill do your business to a hair | N |
| For long as you this ring shall wear | N |
| As sure as I look over Lincoln | E |
| That ne'er shall happen which you think on | K2 |
| - | |
| Hans took the ring with joy extreme | L2 |
| All this was only in a dream | L2 |
| And thrusting it beyond his joint | B |
| 'Tis done he cried I've gain'd my point | B |
| What point said she you ugly beast | B |
| You neither give me joy nor rest | B |
| 'Tis done What's done you drunken bear | N |
| You've thrust your finger G d knows where | N |
Matthew Prior
(1)
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