The Bean-feast Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EFGG HIJJ KKLLMM NNOO PPMM QQPP FFRR SSTT UUUUUUHe was the man Pope Sixtus that Fifth that swineherd's son | A |
He knew the right thing did it and thanked God when 't was done | A |
But of all he had to thank for my fancy somehow leans | B |
To thinking what most moved him was a certain meal on beans | B |
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For one day as his wont was in just enough disguise | C |
As he went exploring wickedness to see with his own eyes | C |
If law had due observance in the city's entrail dark | D |
As well as where i' the open crime stood an obvious mark | D |
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He chanced in a blind alley on a tumble down once house | E |
Now hovel vilest structure in Rome the ruinous | F |
And as his tact impelled him Sixtus adventured bold | G |
To learn how lowliest subjects bore hunger toil and cold | G |
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There sat they at high supper man and wife lad and lass | H |
Poor as you please but cleanly all and carefree pain that was | I |
Forgotten pain as sure to be let bide aloof its time | J |
Mightily munched the brave ones what mattered gloom or grime | J |
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Said Sixtus Feast my children who works hard needs eat well | K |
I'm just a supervisor would hear what you can tell | K |
Do any wrongs want righting The Father tries his best | L |
But since he's only mortal sends such as I to test | L |
The truth of all that's told him how folk like you may fare | M |
Come only don't stop eating when mouth has words to spare | M |
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You smiled he play the spokesman bell wether of the flock | N |
Are times good masters gentle Your grievances unlock | N |
How of your work and wages pleasures if such may be | O |
Pains as such are for certain Thus smiling questioned he | O |
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But somehow spite of smiling awe stole upon the group | P |
An inexpressible surmise why should a priest thus stoop | P |
Pry into what concerned folk Each visage fell Aware | M |
Cries Sixtus interposing Nay children have no care | M |
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Fear nothing Who employs me requires the plain truth Pelf | Q |
Beguiles who should inform me so I inform myself | Q |
See And he drew his hood back let the close vesture ope | P |
Showed face and where on tippet the cross lay 't was the Pope | P |
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Imagine the joyful wonder How shall the like of us | F |
Poor souls requite such blessing of our rude bean feast Thus | F |
Thus amply laughed Pope Sixtus I early rise sleep late | R |
Who works may eat they tempt me your beans there spare a plate | R |
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Down sat he on the door step 'twas they this time said grace | S |
He ate up the last mouthful wiped lips and then with face | S |
Turned heavenward broke forth thankful Not now that earth obeys | T |
Thy word in mine that through me the peoples know Thy ways | T |
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But that Thy care extendeth to Nature's homely wants | U |
And while man's mind is strengthened Thy goodness nowise scants | U |
Man's body of its cumlort that I whom kings and queens | U |
Crouch to pick crumbs from off my table reiish beans | U |
The thunders I but seem to launch there plain Thy hand all see | U |
That I have appetite digest and thrive that boon's for me | U |
Robert Browning
(1)
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