The Thief And Cordelier. A Ballad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDD E FGDD E HHII E JKLL E MNDD E DDGG E OPDD E DDLL E DDQQ E DDRR E DDDD E DDDD E| To the tune of King John and the Abbot of Canterbury | A |
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| Who has e'er been at Paris must needs know the Greve | B |
| The fatal retreat of th' unfortunate brave | C |
| Where honour and justice most oddly contribute | D |
| To ease heroes' pains by a halter and gibbet | D |
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| Derry down down hey derry down | E |
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| There death breaks the shackles which force had put on | F |
| And the hangman completes what the judge but begun | G |
| There the Squire of the Pad and the Knight of the Post | D |
| Find their pains no more baulk'd and their hopes no more cross'd | D |
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| Derry down down hey derry down | E |
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| Great claims are there made and great secrets are known | H |
| And the king and the law and the thief has his own | H |
| But my hearers cry out What a deuce dost thou ail | I |
| Cut off thy reflections and give us thy tale | I |
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| Derry down down hey derry down | E |
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| 'Twas there then in civil respect to harsh laws | J |
| And for want of false witness to back a bad cause | K |
| A Norman though late was obliged to appear | L |
| And who to assist but a grave cordelier | L |
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| Derry down down hey derry down | E |
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| The Squire whose good grace was to open the scene | M |
| Seem'd not in great haste that the show should begin | N |
| Now fitted the halter now traversed the cart | D |
| And often took leave but was loath to depart | D |
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| Derry down down hey derry down | E |
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| What frightens you thus my good son says the priest | D |
| You murder'd are sorry and have been confest | D |
| O Father my sorrow will scarce save my bacon | G |
| For 'twas not that I murder'd but that I was taken | G |
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| Derry down down hey derry down | E |
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| Pough pr'ythee ne'er trouble thy head with such fancies | O |
| Rely on the aid you shall have from Saint Francis | P |
| If the money you promis'd be brought to the chest | D |
| You have only to die let the Church do the rest | D |
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| Derry down down hey derry down | E |
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| And what will folks say if they see you afraid | D |
| It reflects upon me as I knew not my trade | D |
| Courage Friend for to day is your period of sorrow | L |
| And things will go better believe me to morrow | L |
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| Derry down down hey derry down | E |
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| To morrow our hero reply'd in a fright | D |
| He that's hang'd before noon ought to think of to night | D |
| Tell your beads quoth the priest and be fairly truss'd up | Q |
| For you surely to night shall in Paradise sup | Q |
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| Derry down down hey derry down | E |
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| Alas quoth the Squire howe'er sumptuous the treat | D |
| Parbleu I shall have little stomach to eat | D |
| I should therefore esteem it great favour and grace | R |
| Would you be so kind as to go in my place | R |
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| Derry down down hey derry down | E |
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| That I would quoth the Father and thank you to boot | D |
| But our actions you know with our must suit | D |
| The feast I proposed to you I cannot taste | D |
| For this night by our Order is marked for a fast | D |
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| Derry down down hey derry down | E |
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| Then turning about to the hangman he said | D |
| Despatch me I pr'ythee this troublesome blade | D |
| For thy cord and my cord both equally tie | D |
| And we live by the gold for which other men die | D |
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| Derry down down hey derry down | E |
Matthew Prior
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