The Merchant Of Venice,: A Legend Of Italy Poem Rhyme Scheme

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I believe there are few	A
But have heard of a Jew	A
Named Shylock of Venice as arrant a 'screw'	B
In money transactions as ever you knew	A
An exorbitant miser who never yet lent	C
A ducat at less than three hundred per cent	C
Insomuch that the veriest spendthrift in Venice	D
Who'd take no more care of his pounds than his pennies	E
When press'd for a loan at the very first sight	F
Of his terms would back out and take refuge in Flight	F
It is not my purpose to pause and inquire	B
If he might not in managing thus to retire	B
Jump out of the frying pan into the fire	B
Suffice it that folks would have nothing to do	A
Who could possibly help it with Shylock the Jew	A
	-
But however discreetly one cuts and contrives	E
We've been most of us taught in the course of our lives	E
That 'Needs must when the Elderly Gentleman drives '	-
In proof of this rule	G
A thoughtless young fool	G
Bassanio a Lord of the Tomnoddy school	G
Who by showing at Operas Balls Plays and Court	H
A 'swelling' Payne Collier would read 'swilling' 'port '	-
And inviting his friends to dine breakfast and sup	I
Had shrunk his 'weak means ' and was 'stump'd ' and 'hard up '	-
Took occasion to send	J
To his very good friend	J
Antonio a merchant whose wealth had no end	J
And who'd often before had the kindness to lend	J
Him large sums on his note which he'd managed to spend	J
	-
'Antonio ' said he 'Now listen to me	K
I've just hit on a scheme which I think you'll agree	K
All matters consider'd is no bad design	L
And which if it succeeds will suit your book and mine	L
'In the first place you know all the money I've got	M
Time and often from you has been long gone to pot	M
And in making those loans you have made a bad shot	M
Now do as the boys do when shooting at sparrows	E
And tom tits they chance to lose one of their arrows	E
Shoot another the same way I'll watch well its track	N
And turtle to tripe I'll bring both of them back	N
So list to my plan	O
And do what you can	O
To attend to and second it that's a good man	O
	-
'There's a Lady young handsome beyond all compare at	P
A place they call Belmont whom when I was there at	P
The suppers and parties my friend Lord Mountferrat	P
Was giving last season we all used to stare at	P
Then as to her wealth her solicitor told mine	L
Besides vast estates a pearl fishery and gold mine	L
Her iron strong box	E
Seems bursting its locks	E
It's stuffed so with shares in 'Grand Junctions ' and 'Docks '	-
Not to speak of the money's she's got in the stocks	E
French Dutch and Brazilian Columbian and Chilian	L
In English Exchequer bills full half a million	L
Not 'kites ' manufactured to cheat and inveigle	G
But the right sort of 'flimsy ' all signed by Monteagle	G
Then I know not how much in Canal shares and Railways	E
And more speculations I need not detail ways	E
Of vesting which if not so safe as some think'em	Q
Contribute a deal to improving one's income	R
In short she's a Mint	P
Now I say deuce is in't	P
If with all my experience I can't take a hint	P
And her 'eye's speechless messages ' plainer than print	P
At the time that I told you of know from a squint	P
In short my dear Tony	P
My trusty old crony	P
Do stump up three thousand once more as a loan I	S
Am sure of my game though of course there are brutes	E
Of all sorts and sizes preferring their suits	E
To her you may call the Italian Miss Coutts	E
Yet Portia she's named from that daughter of Cato's	E
Is not to be snapp'd up like little potatoes	E
And I have not a doubt I shall rout every lout	P
Ere you'll whisper Jack Robinson cut them all out	P
Surmount every barrier Carry her marry her	B
Then hey my old Tony when once fairly noosed	P
For her Three and a half per cents New and Reduced '	-
	-
With a wink of his eye His friend made reply	S
In his jocular manner sly caustic and dry	S
'Still the same boy Bassanio never say 'die'	P
Well I hardly know how I shall do't but I'll try	S
Don't suppose my affairs are at all in a hash	T
But the fact is at present I'm quite out of cash	T
The bulk of my property merged in rich cargoes is	E
Tossing about as you know in my Argosies	E
Tending of course my resources to cripple I	S
've one bound to England another to Tripoli	P
Cyprus Masulipatam and Bombay	U
A sixth by the way I consigned t'other day	U
To Sir Gregor M'Gregor Cacique of Poyais	E
A country where silver's as common as clay	U
Meantime till they tack And come some of them back	N
What with Custom house duties and bills falling due	P
My account with Jones Loyd and Co looks rather blue	P
While as for the 'ready ' I'm like a Church mouse	E
I really don't think there's five pounds in the house	E
But no matter for that	P
Let me just get my hat	P
And my new silk umbrella that stands on the mat	P
And we'll go forth at once to the market we two	P
And try what my credit in Venice can do	P
I stand well on 'Change and when all's said and done I	S
Don't doubt I shall get it for love or for money '	-
	-
They were going to go	V
When lo down below	V
In the street they heard somebody crying 'Old Clo' '	-
'By the Pope there's the man for our purpose I knew	P
We should not have to search long Salanio run you	P
Salarino quick haste ere he get out of view	P
And call in that scoundrel old Shylock the Jew '	-
	-
With a pack	N
Like a sack	N
Of old clothes at his back	N
And three hats on his head Shylock came in a crack	N
Saying 'Rest you fair Signior Antonio vat pray	U
Might your vorship be pleashed for to vant in ma vay '	-
	-
'Why Shylock although As you very well know	V
I am what they call 'warm ' pay my way as I go	V
And as to myself neither borrow nor lend	P
I can break through a rule to oblige an old friend	P
And that's the case now Lord Bassanio would raise	E
Some three thousand ducats well knowing your ways	E
And that nought's to be got from you say what one will	G
Unless you've a couple of names to the bill	G
Why for once I'll put mine to it	P
Yea seal and sign to it	P
Now then old Sinner let's hear what you'll say	U
As to 'doing' a bill at three months from to day	U
Three thousand gold ducats mind all in good bags	E
Of hard money no sealing wax slippers or rags '	-
	-
' Vell ma tear ' says the Jew 'I'll see vat I can do	P
But Mishter Antonio hark you 'tish funny	P
You say to me 'Shylock ma tear ve'd have money '	-
Ven you very vell knows How you shpit on ma clothes	E
And use naughty vords call me Dog and avouch	T
Dat I put too much int'resht py half in ma pouch	T
And vhile I like de resht of ma tribe shrug and crouch	T
You find fault mit ma pargains and say I'm a Smouch	T
Vell n o matters ma tear Von vord in your ear	B
I'd be friends mit you bote and to make dat appear	B
Vy I'll find you de monies as soon as you vill	G
Only von littel joke musht be put in de pill	G
Ma tear you musht say	U
If on such and such day	U
Such sum or such sums you shall fail to repay	U
I shall cut vere I like as de pargain is proke	V
A fair pound of your flesh chest by vay of a joke '	-
	-
So novel a clause Caused Bassanio to pause	E
But Antonio like most of those sage 'Johnny Raws'	E
Who care not three straws	E
About Lawyers or Laws	E
And think cheaply of 'Old Father Antic ' because	E
They have never experienced a gripe from his claws	E
'Pooh pooh'd' the whole thing 'Let the Smouch have his way	U
Why what care I pray	U
For his penalty Nay	U
It's a forfeit he'd never expect me to pay	U
And come what come may I hardly need say	U
My ships will be back a full month ere the day '	-
So anxious to see his friend off on his journey	P
And thinking the whole but a paltry concern he	P
Affixed with all speed	P
His name to a deed	P
Duly stamp'd and drawn up by a sharp Jew attorney	P
Thus again	L

Richard Harris Barham

The Merchant Of Venice,: A Legend Of Italy Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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